DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMAL RELATED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES IN KASHMIR VALE

Abstract

With the increase in encroachment of forests by humans, the incidence of animal contact and subsequent attack has increased. Head and neck region is one of the areas in the human body which gets commonly injured by these animal attacks. Injuries to head and neck is often associated with mortality and morbidity and varying degree of physical and functional damage ranging from simple lacertion to loss of a vital organ like eye. Fractures of the facial bones can result in complications, such as sinusitis, permanent facial deformity, and injury to the eye.

Aim: The study aimed at determining the prevelance of Head and Neck injury admitted at Government Medical College Srinagar from March 2012 to September 2013.

Materials and methods: This study was conducted in Otorhinolaryngology department of GMC Srinagar, It was a prospective cross sectional descriptive hospital based study.  100 patients who were diagnosed of having head and neck injuries were recruited. Information on age, sex and cause of injury was taken. Each patient was then examined for the presence of ear, face and throat injuries, using the available bed side instruments.Data was analysed using the SPSS program.

Results: Out of 100 patients, 64 (64%) were males and 36 (36%) were females, where majority, 57 (57%) were of age group 8-21.Among patients who had trauma in the ORL region, majority had head and neck injuries 76(76%) alone and occurred commonly on the age group 21-40 and majority were males. The most common site other than head and neck which was injured was terminal phalanges (35%) and wrist(12%) in descending order. The most common animal was bear in rural areas and dogs in urban areas and overall dogs were the most common animals responsible for injuries.

Conclusion: The overall prevalence of patients who were attacked by animals and had head and neck trauma was high.It was higher among 11-21 years and in males. Educating the patients could decrease the incidence of morbidity of these injuries.