Animal related facial trauma

Abstract

Background. According to ICD-10 classification, animal related injuries may result from being bitten or hit, not to mention being stung or crushed by an animal. Objectives. The aim of the study is to analyze and characterize animal related injuries. Material and methods. 35 patients (13 men and 22 women) treated at Craniomaxillofacial and Oncological Surgery Department in MU of Lodz between 2004 and 2012 due to animal related injuries were enrolled into the study. The age of patients ranged between 15 and 75 years. A retrospective analysis focusing on medical documentation enabled us to collect data concerning the following: age of patients, gender of patients, animal that caused the injury, the site of the accident, alcohol consumption by the injured individual prior to the incident, as well as the period of hospitalization. Additionally, the FISS scale (Facial Injury Severity Scale) was used to evaluate the severity of facial injuries. Results. Results lead to observations making it possible to declare that men suffered from injuries reported as severe according to the FISS scale much more frequently than women. More severe injuries also occurred significantly more often in agricultural farms. Injuries caused by large home animals are related with the incidence of the so-called high-energy injuries and stand as frequent multi-organ and multi-site injuries. Conclusions. Animal related injuries are often multi-organ and multi-site injuries that require specialist treatment. More severe injuries were observed both in the masculine group and within the area of agricultural farms. The greater value of the FISS scale was associated with a longer period of hospitalization. Alcohol consumption is emphasized as a factor prompting the attack of the animal, as well as animal aggression against a human being.