A woman sustained severe injuries, including a shattered voice box, after being attacked by a Cane Corso dog. The incident occurred in Dublin, where she was quickly taken to Beaumont Hospital for emergency treatment. Surgeons had to create an airway in her neck due to the collapse of her natural air passage.
The Cane Corso breed is not restricted in Ireland and is legally owned in the UK. The dog involved in the attack was familiar to the woman but was not her pet. The force of the bite caused two puncture wounds on her neck, leading to the fragmentation of her throat cartilage, resulting in injuries comparable to those seen in high-speed car accidents.
Additionally, the woman suffered from surgical emphysema, a condition where air escapes from the windpipe and becomes trapped under the skin. The unprovoked attack prompted the euthanization of the dog. Medical experts highlighted the rarity and potential life-threatening nature of laryngeal trauma from a dog bite, a condition more commonly observed in children.
Due to the severity of her injuries, the medical team at Beaumont Hospital had to perform an emergency tracheostomy followed by complex reconstructive procedures. The woman underwent multiple follow-up treatments, including the insertion of a laryngeal stent to maintain an open airway. Despite the challenging situation, she achieved an optimal recovery.
Following successful decannulation of the tracheostomy tube, she regained normal breathing function. Subsequent examinations confirmed the restoration of her vocal cord function, and she underwent specialized therapy to regain swallowing and speech abilities. The Cane Corso breed, known for its large size and historical role as a guardian, can reach heights of up to 28 inches and weigh over 100 pounds.