*Faculty of Medicine,Dalhousie University,Halifax, NS.
†Division of Plastic Surgery,Dalhousie University,Halifax, NS.
CJEM. 2019 Jan;21(1):63-70. doi: 10.1017/cem.2018.2. Epub 2018 Mar 1.
The purpose of this study was to assess the pattern of adult dog bites presenting to a medium size Canadian city’s Emergency Departments.
All adult (≥16 years) patients presenting to Emergency Departments in our region during a 30-month period (January 2013 to June 2015) were identified. Demographics, injury patterns, and dog-specific characteristics were studied.
A total of 475 dog bites were identified. The greatest proportion of dog bites occurred in the summer months (140, 30%). Pit-bull type was the most frequently implicated breed (27%). The majority of patients identified were female (295, 62%). The majority of bites occurred in the hands (264 cases, 56%). Bites occurring in the head and neck accounted for 11% of all injuries. Although 50% of injuries required only washout and dressing, 15 cases (3%) required a complex primary closure. The operating room was utilized in the reconstruction of eight defects (2%). There were four (1%) tendon repairs, one (0.2%) nerve repair, and one injury requiring a skin graft (0.2%). Three patients were admitted to hospital. We identified an overall infection rate of 10%.
Dog bites most commonly occurred in the hands and upper extremities, and carried an infection risk of approximately 10%. Large, muscular breeds were the most frequently implicated. The effectiveness of breed-specific legislation remains unclear, but educational programs for dog owners, children, and health care workers may help decrease the number and severity of attacks.
本研究旨在评估加拿大中型城市急诊部门成人狗咬伤的模式。
在 30 个月期间（2013 年 1 月至 2015 年 6 月），确定了所有到我们地区急诊部门就诊的成年（≥16 岁）患者。研究了人口统计学特征、损伤模式和犬种特征。
共发现 475 例狗咬伤。狗咬伤最多发生在夏季（140 例，占 30%）。涉及的最常见犬种是斗牛犬（27%）。大多数患者为女性（295 例，占 62%）。大多数咬伤发生在手部（264 例，占 56%）。咬伤发生在头颈部占所有损伤的 11%。尽管 50%的损伤仅需冲洗和包扎，但有 15 例（3%）需要复杂的一期缝合。有 8 例（2%）采用手术修复缺损，4 例（1%）进行肌腱修复，1 例（0.2%）进行神经修复，1 例（0.2%）需要植皮。有 3 例患者住院。我们发现总体感染率为 10%。
狗咬伤最常见于手部和上肢，感染风险约为 10%。大型、肌肉发达的犬种最常涉及。针对特定犬种的立法的效果尚不清楚，但针对犬主、儿童和医护人员的教育计划可能有助于减少咬伤的数量和严重程度。
