Available online 6 January 2016
Highlights
- We presented dog bite statistic in humans by reviewing forensic medical records.
- The data spanned a period of 6 consecutive years (2005-2010).
- The analysis covered animal profile, bite circumstances and injury descriptions.
- A draft forensic medical worksheet for patients with dog bites has been proposed.
Abstract
Dog
bite wounds represent the majority of all animal-related injuries. The
statistics on the characteristics of dog bites in Poland are very
limited. This study reviews statistics on dog bites to humans using
forensic medical records obtained from the outpatient clinic of the
Department of Forensic Medicine of the Medical University in Wrocław,
spanning a period of 6 consecutive years (2005-2010). The analysis
includes animal profile, circumstances of the biting incident, and
injury description. Dependence among selected injury features was tested
using the χ2 Rao-Scott test. The analysis showed that the
prevalent group of dog bite victims were adults bitten by dogs
unfamiliar to them. Most of the injuries were deep and the most frequent
exposure regions were those of the lower extremities. Additionally, a
draft forensic medical assessment worksheet was developed to improve the
process of examining patients who sustained dog bites. The information
contained in proposed forensic medical assessment worksheets are a
valuable source of data concerning epidemiology of canine bites, help to
determine a proper course of action with respect to the dog, and may
eventually reduce the number of dog bite incidents in Poland.
Keywords
- canine behavior;
- dog aggression;
- dog bites;
- forensic dog bite worksheet;
- Poland
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