BISON GORING INJURIES - PENETRATING AND BLUNT TRAUMA

Injuries from bison (American buffalo, Bison bison) attacks have not p reviously been reported in the medical literature. This study examines 56 bison-caused injuries, including two fatalities, from Yellowstone National Park over the past 15 years. Two mechanisms of injury were ob served. The first was direct goring by the bison's hem, ''hooking,'' r esulting in deep puncture wounds most often to buttocks or thighs. Abd ominal injury, including evisceration, was also seen. Blunt trauma occ urred as the victim was shoved or butted by the animal's head, or when the victim sustained a rapid deceleration on ground impact after bein g tossed into the air. Multiple sites and types of fractures, abrasion s, and contusions were seen. Most patients requiring hospital care for goring wounds were treated with operative debridement and primary clo sure. Cultures of puncture wounds were uniformly negative. Injuries fr om bison exceed injuries from bears or any other wild animals in Yello wstone National Park.