[A detailed examination of injuries to the head and neck caused by bullfighting, and of their surgical treatment; the role of the cervico-facial surgeon].

Bullfighting (corrida) dates back to the 13th century in France, especially in the Camargue and the South-West, even if this fight between man and wild bull had been described before in other countries. The current modern bullfight, as an artistic interpretation, was codified in Spain during the 18th century into 3 tercios (parts): the tercio of the lance, of the bandillera, and of the muletta, which end with the death of the bull. Celebrated by our Spanish neighbours as a national fiesta, the corrida represents a confrontation between the intelligence of man and the power of the bull. Injuries are the heavy cost of this art paid by each bullfighter. Most of them have been injured seriously, or even gored to death inside the bullring. Goring is a single injury, a mix of wound, burn, contusion and infection. Its treatment calls for an expert, which makes this type of surgery highly specialised. Head and neck trauma represents 16% of the total wounds in bullfighting. Its not very often that this type of injury happens, but each time it is serious. This study is based on 1450 case reports, deals with causes and accident circumstances, together with the type of injuries and their early management in the bullring's infirmary. The seriousness of these wounds would justify a head and neck surgeon being part of the medical staff during the corrida.