Mechanism of injuries:
(1) blunt crush injuries (against the sides of the arena, below a falling animal)
(2) stomping injuries beneath the hoofs of a bull
(3) impalement on the horns (being gored)
(4) fall injury after becoming airborne
Types of injuries:
(1) fracture, which are often compound
(2) vascular injury
(3) avulsion (especially to external genitalia)
(4) penetrating wound (impalement)
(5) articular dislocation
Penetrating impalement injuries:
(1) external genitalia (especially the scrotum)
(2) inguinal region, with injury to the femoral blood vessels
(3) perineum, with possible injury to bladder and rectum
(4) abdomen, with possible injury to bowel, liver, mesentery and blood vessels
(5) thigh
(6) upper extremity
(7) thorax
The most dangerous injuries occur if the bullfighter (torero) undergoes rotation while impaled on the bull's horn. This can result in a massive wound cavity with laceration of major blood vessels and abdominal organs
Wound are usually contamination and infections are common if the wounds undergo early primary closure. Delayed primary or secondary closure is associated with a much lower infection rate.
