MANAGING LAW-ENFORCEMENT (K-9) DOG BITES IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Objective: To review the types of injuries due to law enforcement (K-9 ) dog bites and address related management issues. Methods: A case ser ies of law enforcement dog bite victims is reported and related litera ture reviewed. Results: Law enforcement dogs are taught a bite-and-hol d technique for subduing individuals suspected of felony crimes. This bite-and-hold technique's greater applied force results in a unique sp ectrum of injuries, including deep puncture wounds, severe crush injur ies, large tissue avulsions and lacerations, wounds necessitating surg ical debridement, bony injuries ranging from cortical violations to di splaced fractures, neurovascular damage, and other wounds at high risk for infection. The four reported cases highlight the types of injurie s and complications associated with law enforcement dog bites. Conclus ion: Attention to potential deep injuries of nerves, vessels, and the musculoskeletal system is essential with law enforcement dog bites. In juries associated both with pursuit and arrest and with the bites them selves must be identified and assessed. Guidelines for the ED treatmen t of patients with law enforcement dog bite injuries are proposed.