Citation

Willmott H, Greenheld N, Goddard R. Accid. Anal. Prev. 2012; 46: 52-54.

Affiliation

Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Conquest Hospital, Hastings, East Sussex, United Kingdom.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.aap.2011.10.004

PMID

22310043

Abstract

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.

Language: en