From the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.
Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center.
Ann Plast Surg. 2021 Jun 1;86(6S Suppl 5):S510-S516. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000002928.
Dog bite injuries cause significant preventable patient morbidity and health care expenditure in children. This study aimed to characterize the patient and healthcare burden related to pediatric dog bite injuries at a level 1 trauma center.
This is a retrospective review of 356 pediatric patients who presented to Virginia Commonwealth University Pediatric Emergency Department between July 2007 and August 2017 after sustaining dog bite injuries. Demographic information, injury details, management, outcomes, and financial information were analyzed.
Most pediatric dog bite injuries afflicted male children (55.6%), ages 6 to 12 years (45.7%), by a household dog (36.2%). The most common offending breed was a pit bull or pit bull mix (53.0%). Infants and grade schoolers were more likely to sustain bites to the head/face (P = 0.001). Usual management consisted of primary repair (75.9%), whereas approximately 25% of the patients required advanced reconstructive techniques. Most patients healed uneventfully, but prolonged antibiotics, additional wound care, or procedures were necessary in 8.4% of the patients. Hospital charges per patient averaged US $8830.70 and tended to be higher in the younger age groups. Insurance status was statistically associated with use of conscious sedation, surgical consult placement, and surgical repair.
Although most pediatric dog bite injuries in this study healed uneventfully from primary management in the emergency department, 25% required additional interventions. Furthermore, patient care for these injuries was associated with significant but potentially avoidable personal and financial burden to families. Our data reflect a need for safety education on animal care, behavior, and interaction.
狗咬伤会给儿童造成严重的可预防的患者发病率和医疗保健支出。本研究旨在描述一级创伤中心儿童狗咬伤相关的患者和医疗保健负担。
这是对 2007 年 7 月至 2017 年 8 月期间在弗吉尼亚联邦大学儿科急诊部就诊的 356 名因狗咬伤而受伤的儿科患者的回顾性研究。分析了人口统计学信息、损伤细节、管理、结果和财务信息。
大多数儿童狗咬伤发生在男性儿童（55.6%）、6 至 12 岁（45.7%）、由家庭犬引起（36.2%）。最常见的肇事犬种是斗牛犬或斗牛犬混血（53.0%）。婴儿和小学生更有可能被咬伤头部/面部（P = 0.001）。常规治疗主要包括一期修复（75.9%），但约 25%的患者需要高级重建技术。大多数患者愈合顺利，但仍有 8.4%的患者需要延长抗生素、额外的伤口护理或手术。每位患者的平均住院费用为 8830.70 美元，且在年龄较小的患者中费用更高。保险状况与使用镇静、手术咨询和手术修复显著相关。
尽管本研究中大多数儿童狗咬伤在急诊科通过一期管理顺利愈合，但仍有 25%的患者需要额外干预。此外，这些伤害的患者护理给家庭带来了巨大但潜在可避免的个人和经济负担。我们的数据反映了需要进行有关动物护理、行为和互动的安全教育。
