Trauma and the veterinarian.
Abstract: A survey of all American Veterinary Medical Association members in Minnesota and Wisconsin was conducted by questionnaire to document injuries resulting from animal treatment. Of 995 respondents, 64.6% had sustained a major animal-related injury. Seventeen per cent were hospitalized within the last year. Of those hospitalized, 25.3% required a surgical procedure. Hand injuries were most common in a veterinarian's career (52.6% of respondents), followed by trauma to the arms (27.6%), and the head (20.8%). The thorax (8.3%), genitalia (3.9%), and intra-abdominal viscera (2.8%) were injured less often. Operative procedures were frequently required to treat veterinarian injury from animal patients. Thirty-five per cent of veterinarians required treatment for suture of lacerations, 10% for reduction of fracture/dislocation, and 5% for dental work in their career. One craniotomy and one carotid artery repair were necessary. Mechanism of injury was animal kick (35.5%), bite (34%), crush (11.7%), scratch (3.8%), and other interesting causes (14.9%). These included the patient pushing, goring, head butting, running over, and falling on the veterinarian. Additional work-related hazards included zoonotic disease, autoinoculation of live brucella vaccine, and self-inflicted scalpel injuries from sudden patient movement. The most common animals involved were bovine (46.5%), canine (24.2%), and equine (15.2%). Lost days from work secondary to animal injury averaged 1.3 days (range, 0-180 days) in 1986 and 8.5 days (range, 0-365 days) during the veterinarian's career. Job related automobile accidents also occurred. Veterinarians averaged more than 300 miles driven per week, and only 56% reported following the speed limit. Fifteen per cent did not wear seat belts. Self-treatment of injuries was common.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1988-08-01 PubMed ID: 3411647DOI: 10.1097/00005373-198808000-00020Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research conducted a survey on American Veterinary Medical Association members in Minnesota and Wisconsin, assessing the frequency and types of injuries sustained from treating animals. The study found that more than half of the respondents had sustained a major injury due to their work, with hand injuries being the most common.
Survey Design and Response
- The researchers designed a questionnaire for members of the American Veterinary Medical Association in Minnesota and Wisconsin to gauge the extent of injuries stemming from their professional engagement with animals.
- A total of 995 respondents participated in the survey, providing data on the nature of their injuries and incidents leading to them.
Frequency and Nature of Injuries
- The study found that 64.6% of veterinarians had experienced a major animal-related injury as part of their career.
- Of this, 17% had required hospitalization within the last year of the questionnaire.
- Hand injuries were most prevalent (52.6% of respondents), followed by injuries to arms (27.6%), and the head (20.8%). However, injuries to the thorax, genitalia, and intra-abdominal viscera were less common.
Medical Intervention Required for Injuries
- Operative procedures were often required to treat these injuries. 35% of the injured veterinarians needed treatment for laceration sutures, 10% for fracture/dislocation reduction, and 5% for dental work.
- In more severe cases, one craniotomy and one carotid artery repair were required.
Injury Causes and Animal Involved
- The mechanism of injury varied broadly among veterinarians. They included animal kicks (35.5%), bites (34%), crush injuries (11.7%), scratches (3.8%), and other causes such as goring and head butting (14.9%).
- Furthermore, the data shows that bovines were responsible for the majority of the injuries (46.5%), followed by dogs (24.2%), and horses (15.2%).
Work Lost and Automobile Accidents
- Injured veterinarians, on average, lost 1.3 days of work in 1986, but throughout their careers, this figure averaged at 8.5 days.
- The research also identified job-related automobile accidents, with veterinarians reportedly driving more than 300 miles per week. Only 56% of the respondents reported adhering to the speed limit, and a substantial 15% reported not wearing seatbelts.
Self-Treatment for Injuries
- The study also highlighted the common tendency among veterinarians to self-treat their injuries, which might have implications for their general health and wellbeing.
Cite This Article
APA
Landercasper J, Cogbill TH, Strutt PJ, Landercasper BO.
(1988).
Trauma and the veterinarian.
J Trauma, 28(8), 1255-1259.
https://doi.org/10.1097/00005373-198808000-00020 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Surgery, Gundersen Clinic/La Crosse Lutheran Hospital, WI 54601.
MeSH Terms
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Occupational Diseases / epidemiology
- Occupational Diseases / etiology
- Occupational Diseases / therapy
- Risk Factors
- Self Care
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Veterinary Medicine
- Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology
- Wounds and Injuries / etiology
- Wounds and Injuries / therapy
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