Injuries and Deaths Occurring as a Result of Bull Attack

Abstract

Persons whose occupations are in animal husbandry may be seriously injured or killed while tending to animals. Bulls are among the most dangerous of these animals. In this study, seven deaths and 23 traumatic injury cases caused by bull attacks and treated in the General Surgery and Chest Surgery Department of Selcuk University Meram Medical Faculty Hospital are presented. Of the 30 total cases, 24 were male and 6 were female. The ages of the cases ranged from 33 to 86 years and the average age was 60.3 +/- 12.4 (mean +/- standard deviation). All of the death and injury cases occurred while engaged in the care of bulls. It was also determined that the injuries were in the chest region of five (71.4%) and in the head of two (18.6%) out of seven death cases; and in the abdominal region of 14 (60.9%) and in the chest region of nine (39.1%) out of 23 traumatic injury cases. Of the 14 cases that were in the abdominal region and treated surgically, 11 were perforation of small/large intestines, whereas hemorrhages involving the intestinal mesentery, intraabdominal hemorrhage due to perforation of the abdominal wall, and splenic laceration were determined in one case each. There were one or multiple costal fractures in all nine chest injury cases, flail chest in five cases, and hemothorax, pneumothorax, or hemopneumothorax were determined in six cases. Of the chest injury cases, tube thoracostomy was performed in six whereas the other three cases were discharged from the hospital after supportive care. It was concluded that animals such as bulls might be the cause of serious trauma ending with death for those working in the animal husbandry. For this reason, caution is required while feeding and working with bulls. Risk can be reduced by chutes, gates, restraints, special housing, and confinement facilities. Also, wearing protective helmets would be useful especially for preventing head injuries.

Livestock-Handling Related Injuries and Deaths

“…Farm workers in particular are at high risk of lethal injuries involving the head and torso (Bury et al, 2012). There are many reported cases of large farm animals butting or kicking individuals, resulting in death, with horses, bulls and cows being the most common offenders (Karkola et al, 1973;Rabl & Auer, 1992;Langley, 1994;Holland et al, 2001;Dogan et al, 2008). Occupation and sex bias are demonstrated in the report of nine cattle-related deaths in which eight of the victims were men with the deaths occurring on farms.…”

An isolated femoral vein injury caused by bull horn

“…[8] People whose occupation is animal husbandry may be the target of such an attack and may be severely injured or killed while tending to large animals. [3] Apart from the farmers, other people who work with the animals including veterinarians, butchers, workers in zoos and circuses are all at high risk of bull gore. [9] According to the studies, most of the victims of the bull attack are either the owner of the animals or workers who are responsible for their care.…”

“…[9] According to the studies, most of the victims of the bull attack are either the owner of the animals or workers who are responsible for their care. [3] Bull gore injuries are common in Latin countries because these animals are frequently used in certain shows and fests. [10] Therefore, a specialized and unique medical care for the bullfighters named Cirurgica Taurina has been established in the big arenas in Spain and South America during past two decades.…”

“…[2] Injuries of bull attack frequently occur in these countries because these animal are used in the celebrations and shows. [3] However, animal related injuries are more frequently reported in countries where the bulls are used for farming and stockbreeding. [4] Despite their rate is low among all injuries, bull gorings tend to be fatal.…”

Surgical management of bull horn injury

“…In addition to the world-famous encierros of the San Fermin festivities, the region of Navarra features a myriad of bull events in every town, with wild cows being used more commonly in small towns. 4,7 Bull horn lesions are frequent in the Latin world due to the existence of spectacles involving these animals. These wounds have special features that make them different from all other lesions.…”