Globe rupture caused by a camel bite

Camel-Related Facial Injuries: A Seven-Year Retrospective Study

Facial injuries caused by camels can be associated with adverse long-term effects on patients' quality of life. We aimed to investigate camel-related facial injuries in Al-Ain City, UAE, focusing on their incidence, types, mechanisms, anatomical distribution, and outcomes, to enhance preventive measures. We retrospectively collected data from all patients who were admitted to our hospital with camel-related facial injuries from January 2014 through January 2021. Thirty-six patients were included; all were males, with a mean (range) age of 31 (14-66) years, 29 (80.5%) were camel caregivers. The most common mechanisms of injury were falling while riding a camel and camel kicks. The head was the most commonly injured region in 52.7%. Twenty-three (63.8%) patients had facial bone fractures. The middle third of the face accounted for 71.4% of the bony fractures. The most performed surgical procedures in our patients were soft tissue laceration repair and open reduction with internal fixation of fractures (ORIF). Camel-related facial injuries affect young adult male camel caregivers working on camel farms. Orbital and maxillary bone fractures are the most predominant fractures requiring operative management. Legislation for compulsory helmet usage may reduce the incidence of these injuries and their serious consequences.

Surgical management of camel-related craniofacial injuries

Background

There are no studies focused on the types and management of camel-related craniofacial injuries.

Objectives

We aimed to analyze the pattern of injuries that required surgical management and their specific operative treatment.

Methods

We prospectively collected data of all patients who were admitted to Al Ain Hospital with camel-related craniofacial injuries that were treated operatively during the period of January 2015 to January 2020.

Results

Eleven patients were studied; all were males having a median (range) age of 29 (19-66) years. Falling from a camel was the most common mechanism of injury (45.5 %) followed by camel bite (36.4 %). The most common injured region was the middle third of the face, which accounted for 56.5% of the bony fractures. Zygomatico-maxillary complex fractures were present in 60% of patients who fell while riding a camel. The most common surgical procedure performed in our patients was an open reduction with internal fixation (54.5%). There was no mortality.

Conclusions

camel-related craniofacial injuries are complex. The main mechanism of injury is falling from a camel on the face causing fractures of the zygomatico-maxillary complex. These fractures usually need open reduction with internal fixation. Taking safety precautions may help in injury prevention.

The nature and consequences of camel-related injuries: A scoping review with special reference to Arab Middle Eastern countries

Animal-related injuries are a substantial but under-reported, emerging public health problem contributing considerably to worldwide morbidity and death. Understanding the behavior of big animals may help in injury prevention. Camels are large long-neck ungulates of the genus Camelus that have been domesticated for millennia as a mode of transportation, race, and food source. Camel-related injuries are not well studied when compared with other animals' injuries. Camels can occasionally be very hostile to humans, inflicting serious injuries. These injuries can be caused by camel bites, falls from their backs, kicks, or collisions with motor vehicles. The relative magnitude of each mechanism has never been extensively studied in the literature. Furthermore, the incidence of camel-related injuries is not well reported worldwide. Camels remain a potential cause of serious injuries and a public health problem for some countries in the Middle East. There are gaps in the incidence, risk factors and mechanism, distribution of camel-related injuries. We aimed to summarize the data and draw conclusions pertaining not just to the most common mechanism of injury but to demographics, incidence, severity, and appropriate methods of prevention of camel-related injuries. This scoping review findings will help for better understanding of the nature and consequences of camel-related injuries, and to improve the existing preventive and management strategies.

Poor Outcome in Camel-Related Eye Trauma with Ruptured Globe

Purpose

To report the poor visual outcome of ruptured globe caused by camel bites.

Observations

A 48-year-old camel caregiver presented to the emergency department after being bitten by a camel in the left side of his face. Ophthalmic examination revealed a superior scleral wound from 9 to 2 o’clock, about 6 mm from the limbus extending to the equator with prolapse of uveal and vitreous tissues, an opaque cornea, total hyphema, diffuse subconjunctival hemorrhage, and a lower lid laceration involving the lid margin and the nasolacrimal duct. The patient has undergone surgical repairs of ruptured globe and lid laceration, followed by retinal detachment surgery. Following these surgical interventions, the patient preserved a light perception vision with flat retina.

Conclusion

Camel-related injuries might primarily involve the ophthalmic structures, especially in camel bites. Camel-related eye trauma might lead to poor visual and anatomical outcomes which might not improve following surgical interventions.

Camel-Related Deaths-A Forensic Overview

ABSTRACT

Camels are ungulates of the genus Camelus and have been used for centuries in parts of Asia and Africa for transport and sustenance. Handling of camels is not without its dangers, and 4 cases from South Australia are reported with a review of lethal camel-related issues. Case 1 is a 56-year-old man who died of multiple blunt force injuries after he had attempted to move a 7-year-old female dromedary (Camelus dromedarius). Case 2 is a 65-year-old woman who was crushed by 1 or more camels that she had been training. Case 3 is a 1-year-old girl who died of blunt craniocerebral trauma after the car in which she was traveling rolled when the driver swerved to avoid a herd of camels that had strayed onto the road. Case 4 is a 66-year-old woman who died of ischemic and hypertensive cardiac disease exacerbated by physical activity while rounding up camels. Deaths associated with camels involve kicking, stomping, kneeling or sitting on a victim, or biting and shaking and throwing. Lethal mechanisms include hemorrhage from vascular injuries and internal organ disruption, crush asphyxia, and blunt craniospinal injuries. Death may also follow falls from camels or vehicle collisions. Camels also carry a wide range of zoonotic diseases, the most significant of which is Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome. Handling of camels may also exacerbate underlying organic illnesses such as cardiac disease. Those working with camels should be aware that the size, strength, and temperament of these animals may make them dangerous and that they also carry potentially lethal zoonotic diseases.