OPTIMIZING WOUND HEALING IN AN 83-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WITH ROOSTER PECK-INDUCED LACERATION: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Background: Although chickens are generally considered harmless, rooster attacks can cause significant injuries in elderly individuals with fragile skin. Age-related structural and cellular changes delay wound healing, increasing the risk of complications. This report presents a rare case of a rooster-induced hand laceration in an elderly woman, highlighting wound characteristics, healing progression, and the role of dressing selection in optimizing recovery. Case Presentation: An 83-year-old woman presented with a hand laceration following an attack by a domestic rooster (Gallus gallus domesticus). The wound was initially irrigated, sutured, and dressed with paraffin gauze and sterile gauze secured with adhesive tape. Prophylactic antibiotics and tetanus immunoglobulin were administered. Despite appropriate initial management, inadequate compliance with wound care instructions led to repeated moisture exposure, resulting in mild periwound edema and maceration. The dressing was subsequently modified using a polyurethane film to maintain a dry and protective environment. Over the following days, the wound demonstrated progressive epithelialization and achieved complete closure with a thin, pale scar by day 11. The patient made a full recovery without infection or functional impairment. Conclusion: This case underscores that even minor poultry-related trauma can result in clinically relevant injury in the elderly. Transitioning from a conventional non-occlusive dressing to a polyurethane film provided superior wound protection, durability, and healing outcomes. Clinicians should consider both patient education and dressing selection as integral aspects of comprehensive wound management in older adults