LAW-ENFORCEMENT K-9 DOG BITES - INJURIES, COMPLICATIONS, AND TRENDS

Study objective: To quantify the number of individuals bitten, the num ber of bites per patient, and the types of injuries and complications caused by law enforcement K-9 dog bites treated in the Jail Ward Emerg ency Department of the Los Angeles County-University of Southern Calif ornia Medical Center. These variables were compared before and after a change in K-9 police policy from the ''bite-and-hold'' to the ''find- and-bark'' technique or stricter controls were instituted over the K-9 teams. Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients in polic e custody with K-9 dog bites who presented to the Jail Ward ED between January 1, 1988, and December 31, 1995, was conducted. Demographic da ta of patients with K-9 dog bites, the number and location of bites, c omplications, procedures performed, and management of bites were recor ded and compared between the periods 1988-1991 (before the policy chan ges) and 1992-1995 (after the changes). Results: Between 1988 and 1995 790 in-custody patients were treated for K-9 dog bites in the Jail Wa rd ED; 705 charts were available for review. Nearly all the patients ( 98.6%) were male, with a mean age of 25; 85.0% were Hispanic or black. More than half (57.2%) sustained three or more bites, mainly to the e xtremities. Complications ensued in 19.3%: vascular in 7.0%, infection in 5.0%, fracture or cortical violation in 4.0%, nerve injury in 1.9% , and tendon injury in 1.1%. Half (49.9%) were hospitalized, with a me dian stay of 3 days. After the change in K-9 policy, the number of pat ients with K-9 dog bites presenting to the Jail Ward ED decreased from 639 (1988-1991) to 66 (1992-1995). The proportion of patients who sus tained three or more bites decreased from 58.4% to 45.5%. The rate of vascular complications decreased from 7.5% to 1.6%, the rate of fractu res decreased from 2.4% to 0, and the rate of cortical violations incr eased from 1.4% to 6.3%. The proportion of patients hospitalized decre ased from 52.0% to 33.8%. Conclusion: K-9 dog bites are associated wit h significant injuries and complications. In this study, changes in la w enforcement K-9 policy contributed to a significant decrease in the overall number of individuals bitten, the number of injuries and compl ications, and the proportion of patients hospitalized.