Beware of the dog? An observational study of dog-related musculoskeletal injury in the UK.
Although owning a dog confers numerous health benefits, dogs can cause falls resulting in musculoskeletal injury and fractures. We conducted a prospective observational study over a two-month period to investigate the incidence and epidemiology of dog-related musculoskeletal injury. All patients attending the Emergency Department, trauma ward or fracture clinic were asked whether their injury was caused by a dog. Thirty-seven patients were identified. There were 26 fractures, 10 soft-tissue injuries and one head injury. Seventeen patients were admitted to the hospital and sixteen cases required an operation. Older people were statistically more likely to sustain a fracture (p=0.0003) or require hospital admission (p=0.02). Mechanisms of injury are discussed and can be classified into direct or indirectly caused by the dog. The most common injury mechanism was being pulled over by a dog on a lead. Injury avoidance strategies are discussed. We conclude that dogs are a potential hazard, particularly to the elderly and the morbidity associated with these injuries may offset the health benefits conferred by dog ownership.
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Conquest Hospital, Hastings, East Sussex, United Kingdom. hwillmott@doctors.org.uk
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Willmott
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Greenheld
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Goddard
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D057805:Pets; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult