opinión/cartas0 open fracture of a cervical transverse process as a result of a bull-horn wound Fractura abierta de apófisis cervical transversa producida por herida por asta de toro

Bull-horn wounds are well known in Spain, many Latin-American countries, Portugal and the south of France, where frequent bullfighting festivals are held every year. These events can be either bullfights or what is known as encierros. Bullfights are spectacles where one or more toreros (i. e., bullfighters) fight and kill wild bulls in accordance with specific rules and methods. The spectacle is in some countries an ageold tradition with deep cultural and artistic associations. Encierros are races that follow protected routes along fenced-off streets, in which groups of people run in front of the bulls and lead them into rings or enclosures. Many injuries are recorded every year when bullfighters and runners are caught and gored by bulls in these events. Bull-horn wounds can result in death, which generally occurs in association with secondary vascular lesions1,2. Spanish law requires the presence of medical and surgical personnel in bullrings, in order to provide potential victims with immediate assistance. No open vertebral fractures caused by bull-horn wounds have so far been reported in the literature. The case of an open cervical fracture resulting from a bull-horn wound is presented. A 28-year-old male, professional bullfighter, suffered a bull-horn wound on the left side of his neck when he was caught by the bull as he went to kill the animal. Following standard procedure in these cases, the patient was examined in the operating room of the bullring infirmary. Rapid clinical inspection, and central and peripheral neurological examination, revealed no abnormalities. Large amounts of non-pulsatile blood were flowing from the neck wound. Bleeding was initially contained by means of gentle compression.