title: Dog bite-related fatalities: a 15-year review of Kentucky medical examiner cases.
abstract: A human dog bite-related fatality generally refers to death proximately caused by trauma from a dog's teeth and jaws. According to The Humane Society of the United States, more than 300 individuals died of dog attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1996. Children <12 and elders >70 years represent the typical victims. Pit bull-type dogs, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds constitute the majority of canines implicated in these fatalities.This is a 15-year (1991-2005) retrospective review of dog bite-related fatalities undergoing medicolegal investigation in Kentucky. Of the 11 deaths, 10 consisted of multiple bite marks and blunt force injuries of the head and neck, trunk, and extremities. In 1 case, an asplenic victim's immediate cause of death was bacterial sepsis secondary to a dog bite. Individuals ranged between 14 months and 87 years; 7 (63.6%) were < or =6 years; 10 (90.9%) individuals were white, and 8 (72.7%) were male. Forensic odontological examinations were performed on the dogs in 4 cases. The requisite multidisciplinary investigation includes a detailed assessment of the scene, the victim, and dog or dogs suspected in the attack.
authors.affiliation: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa B E
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hunsaker
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000473:pathology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D055815:Young Adult