title: Cattle-caused fatalities in a province of western Turkey: 1996-2010 autopsy results.
abstract: Cattle-caused injuries and deaths are much more than predicted. The aim of this research is to determine the prevalence of cattle-caused fatalities and the factors affecting it in a province of western Turkey. The court files on cattle-caused fatalities during a 15-year period between 1996 and 2010 were explored. The proportion of forensic-qualified deaths from the total of 3753 was 0.9% (35/3753). Most of the cases were between the ages of 18 and 65 (60%). Most deaths occurred in the spring and summer months compared with autumn and winter months (9 and 22 vs. 3 and 1, respectively). The mortality rate was much higher in men compared with women (94.3% and 5.7%, respectively). The majority of deaths were caused by injuries on the chest (71.4%). The reason for most deaths was due to hemopneumothorax and lung injury (71.4%). Predicting the behavior of cattle may not always be possible, as such, it is advisable that one wears protective equipment when dealing with cattle.
authors.affiliation: Eskisehir Courthouse, Alanonu Mahallesi, Cifteler Cad. No: 87/A, 26090, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kenan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karbeyaz
authors.forename: Unal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ayranci
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Balci
authors.forename: Tarik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gunduz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006468:Hemopneumothorax / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult