DOI: 10.36347/sasjs

Pages: 199-203

The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of cattle horn injuries in Northern Benin. This was a retrospective study over a period of 10 years (from 1St January 2005 to 31St December 2014). It has taken into account all the patients admitted to the district hospital of Bembèrèkè with acute injury by cattle attack. Eighty four patient medical records were collected. The average age was 11.69 ± 4.5 years and children (the age group of 0-15 years) accounted for 82.1%. The most common site of injury was the abdomen with 52.4% followed by perineum, head and neck, 15.5% for each of them. About abdominal traumas (n=44), it was a penetrating wound in 21 patients (47.7%), abdominal blunt in 14 patients (31.8%) and a parietal wound in 9 patients (20.5%). The perineal injuries (n=13) involved a lacerated wound of the skin (6 patients), a scrotal wound (3 patients), an anorectal tear (3 patients) and a vulvo-vaginal wound (1 patient). Chest injuries (n=8) were in the form of blunt with rib fractures (6 patients) and penetrating injury with hemothorax (2 patients). The number of laparotomy was 29 (65.9%) and intraabdominal visceral affection was demonstrated in 23 patients. Overall wound infection rate was 23.3% and hospital stay was 4.3 days ± 4.8 days. One patient died. Our study emphasizes the observation that oxen or cows although domestic animals, can induce severe injuries by goring as well as bulls. These injuries required an early treatment.