Fractures of the infant skull caused by animal bites.

Animal bites are extremely common in the United States and their incidence is increasing [1-5]. Dog bites are most common, usually producing variable flesh wounds without bony injury. Reports of fractures from bites are difficult to find. However, canine bites present a special hazard to the infant skull which is relatively thin and incompletely mineral ized . One compound depressed skull fracture from a dog's tooth has been reported [6]. We have recently seen two infants with multiple depressed skull fractures from the teeth of a dog and a pet wolf puppy. The radiographic appearance of the fractures is highly unusual and possibly distinctive.