Bull horn lesions are frequent in the Latin world due to spectacles involving these animals. These wounds have special characteristics that distinguish them from all other lesions.
Material and method: A retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients with bull horn lesions admitted to our service between January 1978 and October 2005 was performed.
Results: A total of 387 patients with bull horn lesions were admitted to our service. There were 12 readmissions due to a new wound in a previously treated patient. Twenty-seven patients had two or more lesions. The location of the wounds was: head and neck in 12 (3.1%), thorax in 21 (5.4%), upper extremities in 19 (4.9%), abdomen in 44 (11.3%), perineum in 41 (10.5%), back and lumbar region in 6 (1.5%), and lower extremities in 244 (63%). Thirty-one laparotomies were performed and there were 23 visceral lesions. Surgical treatment in addition to specific procedures consisted of irrigation with antiseptic solution, Friedreich, and primary closure over drains. Antibiotic and antitetanus vaccinations were administered in all patients. The most frequent early complications were: wound devitalization (7 patients) and infection (6 patients). The most frequent late complication was incisional hernia. Three patients died as a result of hypovolemic shock, septic shock and gas gangrene.
Conclusion: Bull horn wounds have special characteristics. Familiarity with these lesions is important in areas where bullfighting is practiced. Although bull horn wounds are severe, their prognosis is good, with few complications and a mortality rate of less than 1%.