The epidemiology of cranio-facial injuries caused by animals in southern-central China.

A clinical investigation was conducted to demonstrate the epidemiology of cranio-facial injuries inflicted by animals in southern-central part of China-the World's most populous eastern country. It consisted of a retrospective study of 149 patients and was carried out in our department. All the patients were attacked by animals, such as buffalo, cattle, donkey, horse, dog, cat, and rat. There were 91 males and 58 females patients, aged from 5 to 65 years. 113 patients were from rural areas, and 36 from urban districts. Dogs, cattle, donkeys and buffalo, were the most common animals involved in this study. Bite was the predominant mechanism of injury, followed by kick, fall, trample, knock and scratch. The lip, chin and cheek were the commonest sites of soft tissue injury; Condylar process, symphysis, parasymphysis, and angle of mandible were the sites of fractures. Regarding the severity of injury, nearly half of the patients belonged to I and II classifications. The treatment results were satisfactory except for obvious scar formation, facial nerve palsy, and dysocclusion in a few patients. Facial injuries caused by animals are common in China, especially in rural areas. Timely treatment should be performed as soon as possible. Special attention should be paid to the prescription of antibiotics and vaccines. Psychotherapy may also be considered when necessary. It is suggested that adequate protective measures should be taken when animals are used for agricultural activities or kept as pets to minimize the incidence of facial injury.