Context.-Dog bites that result in injuries occur frequently, but how frequently dog bite injuries necessitate medical attention at a hospital or hospital admission is unknown. Objective.-To describe the incidence and characteristics of dog bite injuries treated in US emergency departments (EDs). Design.-Emergency department survey from the National Center for Health Statistics National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for 1992 to 1994. Patients.-National probability sample of patients visiting EDs. Main Outcome Measure.-Incidence of dog bites treated in EDs, defined as a cause of injury recorded as the E-code E906.0. Results.-The 3-year annualized, adjusted, and weighted estimate of new dog bite-related injury visits to US EDs was 333 687, a rate of 12.9 per 10 000 persons (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.5-15.4). This represents approximately 914 new dog bite injuries requiring ED visits per day. The median age of patients bitten was 15 years, with children, especially boys aged 5 to 9 years, having the highest incidence rate (60.7 per 10 000 persons for boys aged 5 to 9 years). Children seen in EDs were more likely than older persons to be bitten on the face, neck, and head (73% vs 30%). We estimated that for each US dog bite fatality there are about 670 hospitalizations and 16 000 ED visits. Conclusions.-Dog bite injuries are an important source of injury in the US population, especially among children. Improved surveillance and prevention of dog biterelated injuries, particularly among children, are needed.

Abstract. Objective: To describe the incidence and patient characteristics of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) treated in U.S. emergency departments (EDs). Methods: A secondary analysis was performed on data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey administered from 1992 to 1994. An ED visit was determined to represent a case of TBI if the case record contained ICD-9-CM codes of 800.0-801.9, 803.0-804.9, or 850.0-854.1. Results: The average annual estimate of new TBI treated in U.S. EDs was 1,144,807, equaling 444 per 100,000 persons (95% CI = 390 to 498), which represents approximately 3,136 new cases of TBI per day and accounts for 1.3% of all ED visits. Males were 1.6 times as likely as females to suffer TBI until the age of 65 years, when the female rate exceeded the male. The rate for blacks was 35% higher than that for whites.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of fetal deaths related to maternal trauma. Improved tracking of traumatic fetal injury deaths is important to stimulate and guide research and efforts to reduce the risks to women and fetuses from injury during pregnancy.

Pregnant women should be counseled to wear seatbelts throughout pregnancy and reduce crash risk.

The rate of birth trauma in the US has been reported to range between 0.2 and 37 birth traumas per 1000 births. Because of the minimal number of population-based studies and the inconsistencies among the published birth trauma rates, the rate of birth trauma in the US remains unclear. This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted using 890 582 in-hospital birth discharges from the 2003 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database. A neonate was defined as having birth trauma if their hospital discharge record contained an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code from 767.0 to 767.9. Weighted data were used to calculate rates for all birth traumas and specific types of birth traumas, and rates and odds ratios by demographic, hospital and clinical variables. Weighted data represented a national estimate of 3 920 787 in-hospital births. Birth trauma was estimated to occur in 29 per 1000 births. The three most frequently diagnosed birth traumas were injuries to the scalp, other injuries to the skeleton and fracture of the clavicle. Significant univariable predictors for birth trauma included male gender, Asian or Pacific Islander race, living in urban or wealthy areas, being born in Western, urban and/or teaching hospital, a co-diagnosis of high birthweight, instrument delivery, malpresentation and other complications during labour and delivery. Birth trauma risk factors including those identified in this study may be useful to consider during labour and delivery. In conclusion, additional research is necessary to identify ways to reduce birth trauma and subsequent infant morbidity and mortality.

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Extended hours of sales and consumption of alcohol were associated with increased risk of homicides. Strong restrictions on alcohol availability could reduce the incidence of interpersonal violence events in communities where homicides are high.