‘Not a Plastic Surgeon’s best friend: Dog bites an increasing burden on UK Plastic Surgery services’

Injuries from dog bites are increasing in the United Kingdom (UK). Our study aims to highlight the public health burden of dog bites within the United Kingdom, in particular to the plastic and reconstructive surgeon. National data relating to hospital attendances and admissions was obtained from the Health and Social Care Information Database. Data relating to demographics of the patients admitted, the site and nature of the injury and the epidemiology was analysed. A total of 14,010 patients with dog bites were admitted between March 2013 and February 2015 of which 52% were admitted to Plastic and Reconstructive surgery departments. The incidence in 2014 increased by 6.5% compared with the previous year. The most frequent patient group were children under the age of nine (16%, n=1159) who most commonly sustained bites to the face and head. In total 19% of all dog bite injuries were associated with underlying fractures. Individuals living in most socially deprived areas (based on the national Index of Multiple Deprivation) were 2.8 times more likely to be admitted to hospital with a dog bite. In spite of the current UK legislation, the incidence of dog bites is increasing. Morbidity, mortality and considerable costs to the health service are amongst some of the consequences of these injuries.Accepted manuscript 12 month embarg