Camel-Related Deaths-A Forensic Overview

Patterns of horse and camel- related injuries: A descriptive analysis from a national trauma registry (2007-2021)

BACKGROUND

The large animal-related injuries are emerging major trauma but remain underestimated public health problem worldwide. We aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, mechanisms and patterns of horse and camel-related injuries (HCRIs) in a Middle Eastern country.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of all patients who were hospitalized due to HCRIs was conducted. Data included patient's demographics, mechanism of injury, anatomical location and severity of injury, and hospital outcomes.

RESULTS

Between November 2007 and December 2021, there were 273 hospitalized patients with HCRIs representing1.3 % of the total trauma admissions. Of these, 145 (53.1 %) and 128 (46.9 %) were horse (HRI) and camel-related injuries (CRI) respectively. The most common presenting age group of the cohort was 20-29 years and 88 % were males. Patients with HRIs were younger (27.5 ± 11 years) than CRIs (34 ± 13.5 years). Injuries to the extremities were the most common (62 % vs. 40 %), followed by the head injury (25.5 % vs. 31 %) among the HRIs and CRIs, respectively. The most common mechanism of injury was falling off followed by getting kicked by the HCRIs. Major trauma (ISS ≥12) was found in 23 % of HRIs (47.5 %) and CRIs (52.5 %). Only 5 % of patients had shock index >0.90 on admission; two thirds were due to CRIs. There were four fatalities (1.5 %), all attributed to traumatic brain injury, of which three were due to HRIs and one due to CRIs.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals that HCRIs predominantly affect young adult males and may involve serious injuries, exhibit distinct injury patterns, however, it is associated with low mortality. Preventive measures need to be revisited.

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.

Desert Related Death

Introduction: Desert death is defined as any death that occurs in the desert and could be attributed to a list of causes including environmental, animal related, undetermined, and other causes. Death in the desert seems to be obscure and little discussed in the field of forensic medicine, despite its importance, and there is only limited literature available on this broad topic. This narrative review aims to identify the most common causes of desert death and its medicolegal implications. Desert death causes: Environmental causes of death could be a result of temperature and lightening-related causes. Moreover, a variety of animals found in deserts are considered to be threatening and fatal, in addition to other and undetermined causes. Medicolegal implications of desert death: Likely to arise from the difficulties faced in finding the cause of death are the identification of the victim and the postmortem injuries that occur. Conclusion: Desert death is a broad topic with great medicolegal significance. More information and case reports need to be added in the literature. Guidelines for people about the danger of going to deserts in specific weather conditions should be implemented. Safety regulations must be taken into account at all times.