| Popis: |
Background Between January 1, 1992 and May 31, 1999, four patients underwent operation at Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre for injuries sustained in grizzly bear maulings. Purpose To document and discuss surgical diagnosis and treatment of grizzly bear attack victims. Methods Data were collected retrospectively from clinical charts. Results Injuries were characterized by scalp and tissue avulsions, puncture wounds, lacerations and fractures. On average, patients underwent eight operations. The mean hospital stay was 43 days. Despite irrigation, debridement and antibiotic therapy, patients developed wound colonizations or infections with multiple Gram-positive and -negative organisms. All four patients developed post-traumatic stress disorder necessitating psychiatric counselling and pharmacological treatment. Conclusions Grizzly bear maulings result in multiple injuries requiring careful management and complex reconstruction. Bacterial infections and post-traumatic stress disorder were common complications in this group of patients. |
