Head, face, and neck trauma from large animal injury in New Mexico.
BACKGROUND
Head, face, and neck injuries (HFNI) occur during animal-related trauma. We compared patients with HFNI and without HFNI after animal-related injuries to determine the significance of these injuries.


METHODS
Retrospective review of admissions for animal injuries between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 1995, by age, gender, mechanism, animal, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Abbreviated Injury Severity score for head and neck (AIS Head/Neck), AIS score for face (AIS Face), intensive care unit stay, hospitalization length, morbidity, and mortality.


RESULTS
There were 153 admissions: 61 HFNI and 92 no HFNI. Significant differences occurred in gender, animal, activity, GCS, and ISS. HFNI had higher AIS Head/Neck, AIS Face, and mortality. HFNI were from horses in 87% and occurred during recreation in 89%; 39% of patients with HFNI were 18 years or younger.


CONCLUSIONS
HFNI occur in females and young people and produce lower GCS score, higher ISS, higher AIS Head/Neck, higher AIS Face, and higher mortality. Most occur during recreational horseback riding. Protective headgear should be mandated.
Temes
R T
RT
Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131, USA. ttemes@salud.unm.edu
White
J H
JH
Ketai
L H
LH
Deis
J L
JL
Pett
S B
SB
Osler
T M
TM
Wernly
J A
JA
D015998:Abbreviated Injury Scale; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors