Emergency care in horses involves the immediate assessment and treatment of acute medical conditions or injuries to stabilize the animal and prevent further harm. This area of veterinary practice encompasses a range of situations, including colic, traumatic injuries, respiratory distress, and sudden lameness. Emergency care procedures may involve physical examinations, diagnostic imaging, fluid therapy, pain management, and, in some cases, surgical intervention. This topic includes peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methods, protocols, and outcomes associated with emergency interventions in equine medicine.
Bernick A, Demattio LS, Wehrend A.Uroperitoneum is a typical disease of the newborn foal, which occurs rarely but regularly. Ultrasonography is considered the most important imaging method for diagnosing this disease. Thus far, only one older case series comprising 31 foals suffering from uroperitoneum has systematically listed results of ultrasound examinations. Objective: This paper presents the findings of an ultrasonographic examination of 34 foals with uroperitoneum in order to inform future interpretation of ultrasonographic data in suspected uroperitoneum cases. Methods: Ultrasonographic data of 34 neonatal foals up to ...
Lindinger H, Wehrend A.In horses, parturition is characterized by the fact that any delays may rapidly result in the death of the foal. Therefore, birth monitoring and the rapid detection of dystocia are of great importance. For this purpose, the differentiation between behavior associated with physiological parturition and activities related to difficult parturition is important. The aim of this publication is to present the physiological behavior of mares during parturition on the basis of a literature review. The behavior of mares in the opening phase of parturition is highly individual. In general, it is charact...
Burrell KL, Burford JH, England GCW, Freeman SL.The survival of horses diagnosed with critical colic (requiring referral or euthanasia) relies on rapid and effective decision-making by the owner and veterinary practitioner. Objective: To explore UK horse owners' and veterinary practitioners' experiences of decision-making for critical cases of equine colic. Methods: Qualitative study using a phenomenological approach. Methods: Individual, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 14 horse owners and 13 veterinary practitioners (vets) who had experienced a critical decision (referral or euthanasia) for a horse with colic. A pu...
Brumund L, Wittenberg-Voges L, Rohn K, Kästner SBR.An accurate risk score that can predict peri-anesthetic morbidity and mortality in equine patients could improve peri-operative management, outcome and client communication. Unassigned: Three hunded horses underwent pre-anesthetic risk assessment using the American Society of Anesthesiologists-Physical Status augmented with equine-specific diseases (ASA-PS-Equine), a multifactorial 10-part rubric risk scale (10-RS), and a combination of both, the Combined horse anesthetic risk identification and optimization tool (CHARIOT). Intra-and post-anesthetic complications, the recovery phase and mortal...
Straticò P, Guerri G, Bandera L, Celani G, Di Nunzio L, Petrizzi L, Varasano V.(1) The main goals of general anesthesia include pain management and a safe anesthetic protocol for smooth recovery. In this retrospective study, we compared two anesthetic protocols for general anesthesia with isoflurane during emergency laparotomy: sedation with xylazine and the intraoperative infusion of lidocaine (X group) versus medetomidine as a preoperative sedation and intraoperative infusion (M group). (2) The medical records of horses who underwent emergency laparotomies between 2016 and 2023 were reviewed. According to the anesthetic protocol, patients were allocated to the X or M g...
Morris J, Hoang D.This article discusses a rare case of isolated xylazine overdose in a human, treated successfully with naloxone. Xylazine, typically used as a veterinary tranquilizer, acts as a potent α2 adrenergic agonist, leading to sedation, muscle relaxation, and potential respiratory depression. In this case, a female mistakenly injected herself with xylazine mistaking it for a different medication. The report discusses naloxone's role beyond opioid overdose, especially regarding substances causing central nervous system (CNS) depression via mechanisms similar to those of opioids. While naloxone is trad...
Keller P, Hudders L, Decloedt A.Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) is increasingly popular in horses. As CAVM usage could have risks, client-veterinarian communication about CAVM is crucial. Objective: Evaluating equine veterinarians' attitude towards CAVM, their CAVM usage and veterinarian-client communication about CAVM. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A telephone survey was conducted among equine veterinarians providing ambulatory care on a daily or weekly basis. The first section of the survey included questions about the veterinarians' attitude towards CAVM and their CAVM usage. The second...
François I, Lepage OM, Schramme MC, Salciccia A, Detilleux J, Grulke S.To report findings, outcome and determine variables associated with survival in horses with acquired inguinal hernia (AIH). Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: A total of 98 cases in 97 horses. Methods: The medical records (2005-2020) of horses diagnosed with AIH were reviewed. Retrieved data included signalment, history, clinical variables, surgical aspects, postoperative complications, and short- and long-term outcomes. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with short-term survival (p < .05). Results: Manual reduction was attempted in a third of the...
Lovett A, Vokes J, Loghides N, Johnstone L, Sykes B.Formalin intoxication via the gastrointestinal route has not been previously reported in the horse. Whereas ingestion of formalin in humans, although rare, is well documented. Majority of human cases are either accidental, suicidal or homicidal and often lead to fatality, with a reported lethal formaldehyde dose equating to 0.12 - 0.16 g/kg bwt. Objective: To describe a single case report of the clinical management of an adult horse referred to a veterinary teaching hospital following accidental administration of 10% formalin via nasogastric tube. Methods: A 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding or...
Dybdal N, Horgan M, Costa L, Davis E, Lucero S, Nieves S, Quiroz V, Weberg K, Madigan JE.Challenges and issues related to the use of pentobarbital euthanasia and disposal of animal remains within the US have recently been reviewed. Environmental and public health challenges increasingly necessitate consideration of alternative methods such as gunshots, an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) "acceptable with conditions" method, for the humane euthanasia of horses. A recent study reported a correctly aimed gunshot provides a humane option for euthanizing horses. However, although aiming guidelines exist, studies examining bullet trajectories in animals euthanized by gunsh...
Hobbs K, Luethy D, Davis J, Mallicote M, Torcivia C, Kulp J, Stefanovski D, Futterman C, Cooper F, van Eps A.Trazodone, a serotonin receptor antagonist and reuptake inhibitor, might be a useful adjunctive treatment in the initial management of horses with acute laminitis if it minimizes ambulation or encourages recumbency. Objective: (1) Evaluate the effects of PO trazodone on ambulatory activity and recumbency in healthy horses; and (2) assess the pharmacokinetics of multiple PO doses of trazodone. Methods: In a randomized cross-over design, 8 healthy horses received placebo or trazodone at 2 doses (2.5 and 7.5 mg/kg) PO q12h for 48 hours with a 14-day washout period between treatments. Forelimb...
Foth PW, Gardner A, Pereira CR, Cooper E, Schroeder E, Mudge MC.To assess oral buccal microcirculation by hand-held videomicroscopy in horses during colic surgery, comparing microcirculation values with macrocirculatory parameters and with those of healthy elective surgical horses. Methods: Clinical prospective study. Methods: Client-owned horses (nine in the colic group; 11 in the elective group). Methods: In the colic group, buccal mucosal side stream dark-field microscopy (DFM) videos, cardiac output (CO), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and lactate were obtained at three timepoints under general anesthesia (30, 90, and 150 min after induction). Video a...
Lightfoot KL, Frost E, Burford JH, England GCW, Freeman SL.Behavioural models are widely used within human medicine to understand beliefs and intention associated with major health interventions. Objective: To investigate horse-owner beliefs and practices associated with emergency colic planning. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: An online survey incorporating the Trans-Theoretical Model of behaviour change and the Theory of Planned Behaviour was developed to assess owner intention to adopt three areas of emergency colic planning: (1) prevention/recognition, (2) involvement of others and (3) personal preparation. Participants were recruited usi...
de Solis CN, Coleman M.Abdominal sonography is currently a routine procedure in the evaluation of colic in the horse. This imaging technique is used in both the assessment of the horse presented in the emergency setting with acute colic and the assessment of the horse presented for chronic or recurrent colic in the nonemergency setting. Sonography for colic evaluation is used by specialists in different disciplines and by general practitioners in the ambulatory and hospital settings. In this review, we will focus on indications and clinical interpretation of findings as well as recent developments in abdominal sonog...
Barton C, Hassel DM.A successful outcome to management of the critical colic patient is highly dependent on how the patient is monitored and treated, particularly, in the perioperative period. In this article, we will provide an update on monitoring techniques, advances in fluid therapy, nutrition management and pharmacotherapeutic agents, inclusive of pain monitoring and management, prokinetics, and management of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and the hypercoagulable state.
Freeman DE, Bauck AG.Repeat celiotomy can be lifesaving in horses with a surgically treatable postoperative obstruction, although guidelines for its use are lacking, except for uncontrollable postoperative pain. Overdiagnosis of ileus as the cause of postoperative obstruction could delay a second surgery so the disease progresses beyond a manageable level of severity. Although many horses respond favorably to repeat celiotomy, complications can be severe and life threatening, such as incisional infection and adhesions. Repeat celiotomy does not seem to exacerbate postoperative ileus, despite additional surgical ma...
Bookbinder L, Prisk A.Gastrointestinal colic is the most common primary care equine emergency and affects nearly one of four horses per year. Colic is a significant welfare concern for equine patients and a financial and emotional burden for owners. The primary care practitioner is instrumental in identifying critical cases quickly and making appropriate management recommendations to improve patient outcomes.
Southwood LL.Horses with colic caused by intestinal strangulation can have an excellent outcome with early surgical correction of the obstruction. The expense associated with surgery is typically less with early lesion correction. The challenge is making an early diagnosis of intestinal strangulation. Although for some horses with a strangulating obstruction, the need for surgery is made based on severe colic signs or lack of response to analgesia, in other horses, it is less obvious. Signalment, history, and meticulous physical examination, combined with some targeted diagnostic procedures can help with e...
Hofstee W.Vet and owner of Unicorn Trails Wendy Hofstee explains how she developed a horse-riding holiday business alongside a successful career in emergency veterinary work.
Franzén Lindgren E, Hammarqvist F, Ahl Hulme R.Horse-riding is practiced on a regular basis by 500,000 people in Sweden. It is reputed to be one of the most dangerous sports. On average, there were 1756 acute injuries and three fatalities each year between 1997 and 2014 in Sweden related to horses. The primary aim of this study was to outline the injury spectrum related to equestrian activities cared for at a large Swedish trauma centre. The secondary aim was to identify trends in clinical outcomes and to investigate the association between age and such outcomes. Methods: The electronic medical records system at Karolinska University Hosp...
Ellerbrock M, Wehrend A.In horses, birth is classified as dystocia when the process of parturition threatens to inflict damage onto the mare or the foal, when assistance is required to complete the process of parturition, or when there are temporal deviations in the physiological duration of the first and/or second parturition stages. In this, the duration of the second stage is an important indicator in identifying dystocia, as this phase is easily discernible by the mare's behavior. Equine dystocia is classified as an emergency with life-threatening consequences for mare and foal. A large degree of variation has be...
Gandini M, Giusto G.Accurate reporting of postoperative complications is paramount to understanding procedural outcomes, comparing procedures and assuring quality improvement. Standardising definitions of complications in equine surgeries will improve the evidence of their outcomes. To this end, we proposed a classification for postoperative complications and applied it to a cohort of 190 horses undergoing emergency laparotomy. Methods: A classification system for postoperative complications in equine surgery was developed. Medical records of horses that underwent equine emergency laparotomy and recovered from an...
Savage G, Liesegang A, Campbell J, Lyon M, Fry D.Horse and cattle-related trauma is a common presentation to regional hospitals in Australia. We review local incidence and patterns of injuries relating to horse and cattle trauma over a three-year period at the Toowoomba Base Hospital within the Darling Downs region in Queensland, an area rich in cattle farming and equestrian recreation. Methods: We conducted a single-centre retrospective cohort study. The inclusion criteria were all patients presenting with injuries following cattle or horse-related incidents between January 2018 and April 2021. Primary outcomes were the mechanism of trauma,...
Runge KE, Bak M, Vestergaard A, Staerk-Østergaard J, Jacobsen S, Pihl TH.Predicting non-survival in horses with acute colitis improves early decision making. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prognostic value of serum amyloid A (SAA) and other clinicopathological and clinical variables in adult horses with acute colitis. Clinical variables, SAA and other blood biomarkers, including plasma L-lactate (lactate), were assessed in 176 horses with acute colitis. A multivariate model for the prediction of non-survival was constructed. Icelandic horses were analysed separately. Admission SAA was similar in survivors (median 548 mg/L; range 0-5453 mg/L) and...
Hoffmann MF, Bernstorff M, Kreitz N, Roetman B, Schildhauer TA, Wenning KE.For ages, humankind and horses have been closely related to occupational and recreational activities. The dangers of engaging with horses have been previously reported. Among sporting activities, horse riding is well-known for its risks. Despite multiple recommendations to wear protective gear, horse-related activities still comprise the risk of severe injuries. This study aimed to examine: (1) if specific mechanisms are correlated to particular injury patterns and (2) if injury types are related to patient demographics. Methods: From one level I trauma center, between July 2019 and July 2022 ...
Mattei D, Fenn MS, Caraguel C, Vinardell T.The characterization of the blood groups, antibody profiles, and its distribution pattern among different horse breeds and geographic locations, can be very useful in life-threatening situations where a blood transfusion is needed, and compatibility tests are not readily available. This study estimated the distribution of blood types and antibody profiles in Straight Egyptian Arabian horses from Qatar. A total of 20 Straight Egyptian Arabian horses, from multiple origins and genetic background were included. Venous blood from each horse was typed and screened for anti-red blood cell (RBC) hemo...
Martín-Cuervo M, Gracia-Calvo LA, Macías-García B, Ezquerra LJ, Barrera R.Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a very common finding in critically ill patients. To accurately identify patients with SIRS and those who need intensive care, several markers have been evaluated, including cortisol, WBC or lactate. It is widely known that a stress leukogram includes eosinopenia as one of its main markers (neutrophilia, eosinopenia, lymphopenia and mild monocytes). It is known that cortisol concentration in plasma is the main stress biomarker and is strongly correlated with the severity of disease in horses. However, it is not possible to measure this paramete...
O'Donovan KA, Aarnes TK, Hubbell JA, Parker EM, Mollenkopf D, Lerche P, Ricco Pereira CH, Bini G, Bednarski RM.To report anesthetic-related complications and determine risks associated with anesthesia in draft horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: A total of 401 anesthetic records for draft horse breeds that underwent general anesthesia from January 2010 through December 2020 were reviewed; horses euthanized during general anesthesia were excluded. Methods: Demographics, perioperative drugs used, procedure type and duration, time to extubation, number of attempts to stand, use of sling in recovery and perioperative morbidity and mortality were investigated. Morbidity and mortality statistical ...
Carter BT, Richardson MD.The aim of the study was to examine helmet use, incidence of injury, and patient outcomes in a rural cohort of equestrian accidents. Unassigned: EHR records of patients admitted to a Level II ACS trauma center in the North-west United States were reviewed for helmet use. Injuries were categorized according to International Classification of Diseases-9/10 code. Unassigned: Of 53 identified cases, helmets only reduced superficial injury (χ (1) = 4.837, = 0.028). Intracranial injury rates were not different between those with and without helmets ( > 0.05). Unassigned: In equine related injur...
Gandini M, Cerullo A, Franci P, Giusto G.Reducing postoperative incisional infection is the main reason to administer postoperative antimicrobials (AMD) after emergency laparotomy in horses, while reducing inflammation and providing analgesia are the reasons to administer anti-inflammatory drugs (AID). The basis for postoperative AMD and AID administration is empirical and only recently has been questioned. Empirical approaches can be changed, and these changes, along with the description of their outcomes, can help produce appropriate stewardship. The aim of this study is to report the changes in AMD and AID regimens in horses under...
Tennent-Brown BS, Wilkins PA, Lindborg S, Russell G, Boston RC.Sequential lactate concentration ([LAC]) measurements have prognostic value in that hospitalized humans and neonatal foals that have a delayed return to normolactatemia have greater morbidity and case fatality rate. Objective: Prognosis for survival is decreased in horses with a delayed return to normal [LAC]. Methods: Two hundred and fifty adult horses presented for emergency evaluation excepting horses evaluated because of only ophthalmologic conditions, superficial wounds, and septic synovitis without systemic involvement. Methods: Prospective observational study. [LAC] was measured at admi...
Curtis L, Burford JH, Thomas JS, Curran ML, Bayes TC, England GC, Freeman SL.The majority of research on the evaluation of horses with colic is focused on referral hospital populations. Early identification of critical cases is important to optimise outcome and welfare. The aim of this prospective study was to survey the primary evaluation of horses with clinical signs of abdominal pain by veterinary practitioners, and compare the initial presentation of critical and non-critical cases. Results: Data from 1016 primary evaluations of horses presenting with clinical signs of colic were submitted by 167 veterinary practitioners across the United Kingdom over a 13 month p...
de Loës M.A prospective study of acute injuries from sports and physical exercise was carried out during 1 year in a total population of a municipality with 31,620 inhabitants. The medical treatment and the services required for the injuries have been calculated and related to the total consumption of medical care in the municipality. A total of 571 injuries (17% of all injuries) occurred in 28 different sports: 65% of the injured were males. Sports injuries accounted for 3% of all acute visits and there were altogether 1,083 outpatient visits, which yields a mean of 1.9 visits per injury. Related to th...
Waller AE, Daniels JL, Weaver NL, Robinson P.In the sport of horse racing, the position of the jockey and speed of the horse predispose the jockey to risk of injury. Objective: To estimate rates of medically treated injuries among professional jockeys and identify patterns of injury events. Methods: Cross-sectional survey from data compiled by an insurance broker. Information on the cause of injury, location on the track, and body part injured was evaluated. Methods: Official races at US professional racing facilities (n = 114) from January 1, 1993, through December 31, 1996. Methods: A licensed jockey population of approximately 2700 pe...
Hoffman AM, Staempfli HR, Willan A.The costly nature of intensive care for neonatal foals prompted a study of predictive variables for survival in a referral hospital. Applying stepforward logistic regression to parameters that differed significantly (P less than 0.10) between survivors (S) and nonsurvivors (NS) in a retrospective study (n = 56), two variables retained statistical significance [anion gap (AG, P = 0.0047) and venous PO2 (PvO2, P = 0.0342)], thus forming the basis for a predictive equation for survival: the Pn (probability of NS) = eA/(1 + eA) where A = -1.46 - 0.107 (PvO2) + 0.213 (AG). The predictive equation w...
Smyth GB, Dagley K, Tainsh J.We estimate and describe the financial costs of the equine influenza (EI) outbreak in Australia, including the costs of emergency response measures and lost income/assets to businesses, associations and private horse owners. Costs to associations, governments and industry are discussed. We identify a lack of reliable data about the financial costs of the EI outbreak to the non-racing sectors of the horse industry.
Paillot R, El-Hage CM.In 2007, Australia experienced the most extensive equine influenza outbreak observed in recent years. Extraordinary measures were rapidly implemented in order to control and prevent the spread of this highly contagious disease. The control strategy involved stringent movement restriction and disease surveillance, seconded by emergency post-outbreak vaccination strategies. Sixteen months after the first case and 12 months following the last reported case, Australia regained its equine influenza-free OIE status. This systematic review reports and summarises information relating to the implementa...
Bixby-Hammett D, Brooks WH.The most common location of horse-related injuries is the upper extremity (24% to 61%) with injuries to the lower extremity second in frequency (36% to 40%). The head and face sustain 20% of horse-related injuries. The most common type of injury is a soft tissue injury (92% to 1%), followed by a fracture (57% to 3%). Concussion is the third most common type of injury (63% to 2%). The most frequent cause of hospitalisation is concussion (38% to 4%) with fracture second. The most common injury which leaves residual impairment is injury to the central nervous system. The age at which most injury ...
The Journal of traumaJuly 1, 1997
Volume 43, Issue 1 97-99 doi: 10.1097/00005373-199707000-00022
Kriss TC, Kriss VM.Thirty million Americans ride horses; 50,000 of these riders are treated in emergency rooms annually. Equestrian activities are uniquely dangerous because the participant is unrestrained, often helmetless, and riding large, unpredictable animals capable of 40-mph speeds and kicking with up to 1 ton of force. Neurologic injuries in equestrians constitute the majority of severe injuries and fatalities. We prospectively studied all patients admitted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center with equine-related neurosurgical trauma from July 1992 to January 1996. Eighteen of 30 patients were ma...
Lucas M, Day L, Shirangi A, Fritschi L.A high injury prevalence has been reported among veterinarians. Studies describing the factors associated with injury have been limited. Objective: To describe the characteristics of serious injuries and the use of safety precautions at the time of injury in Australian veterinarians. Methods: Graduates in veterinary medicine from Australian universities completed questionnaires asking about injuries during their professional career including type of injury and circumstances during which injury occurred. Results: A total of 2188 significant injuries were reported. Injuries were most frequently ...
Busoni V, De Busscher V, Lopez D, Verwilghen D, Cassart D.The aim of this prospective study was to establish a protocol for fast localised abdominal sonography of horses (FLASH) admitted for colic. The FLASH protocol was then presented to clinicians without extensive ultrasound (US) experience to determine whether they could learn to use it in less than 15 min. The clinical subjects comprised 36 horses that had been referred for colic over a 2 month period. Each horse was examined at admission and FLASH findings at seven topographical locations were compared to serial clinical examinations, surgical and non-surgical outcomes, or with post-mortem repo...
The Journal of traumaJanuary 1, 1989
Volume 29, Issue 1 25-30 doi: 10.1097/00005373-198901000-00005
Ingemarson H, Grevsten S, Thorén L.Riding accidents can be of a serious nature. Knowledge of risk factors is of essential value in the prevention of injuries. From the years 1969 through 1982 a series of 53 lethal riding injuries is analysed with reference to the rider, the horse, and the environment. Craniocerebral injuries dominate in this series, indicating the importance of adequately protecting helmets. Among the victims the female sex is dominating before the age of 25 and the males above this age. Older horses are less frequently involved in these accidents than younger ones. A long training period for riders under surve...
To assess injury patterns attributable to horse kicks, to raise the issue of preventive measures, and to evaluate the role of modern accident and emergency department computer software. Methods: Data analysis using a new kind of full electronic medical record. Results: Seventeen kicked equestrians were unmounted at the time of injury. Eight of seventeen patients sustained contusions of the extremities, the back, and the trunk. In nine patients an isolated facial injury was diagnosed. Five of nine patients needed referrals to the department of plastic surgery because of the complexity of the fa...
Calvo-Pinilla E, de la Poza F, Gubbins S, Mertens PP, Ortego J, Castillo-Olivares J.Previous studies show that a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus expressing VP2 of AHSV serotype 4 (MVA-VP2) induced virus neutralising antibodies in horses and protected interferon alpha receptor gene knock-out mice (IFNAR -/-) against challenge. Follow up experiments indicated that passive transfer of antiserum, from MVA-VP2 immune donors to recipient mice 1h before challenge, conferred complete clinical protection and significantly reduced viraemia. These studies have been extended to determine the protective effect of MVA-VP2 vaccine-induced antiserum, when administered 48h be...
Freeman DE.Colic surgery is one of few treatments in which a veterinarian can use a skill to save an animal's life from a deadly disease within a short timeframe. Unfortunately, such success is not achieved without considerable risk for surgical failure, which is responsible for most complications in the immediate post-operative period. The last 50 years have witnessed considerable improvements in colic surgery, although a ranking of the most important ones might not meet with universal agreement. Teamwork plays a critical role in the final outcome, starting and finishing with the referring veterinarian...
Paix BR.Horse riding is a hazardous pastime, with a number of studies documenting high rates of injury and death among horse riders in general. This study focuses on the injury experience of cross country event riders, a high risk subset of horse riders. Methods: Injury data were collected at a series of 35 equestrian events in South Australia from 1990 to 1998. Results: Injury rates were found to be especially high among event riders, with frequent falls, injuries, and even deaths. The highest injury rates were among the riders competing at the highest levels. Conclusions: There is a need for skilled...
Whitlock MR, Whitlock J, Johnston B.A retrospective study of horse riding injuries in Berkshire was undertaken over a one year period from November 1983. The information was obtained from the Ambulance Service, the Jockey Club and the St. John Ambulance Brigade. There was a total of 103 injured persons with no deaths. Information from the Jockey Club was compared with the other two groups, the former sustaining more limb injuries and the latter more head injuries. A questionnaire was sent to all 42 ambulance patients. Thirty-eight had radiographs taken, 16 of which showed a fracture. Forty-one were wearing some form of hard hat,...
Johnston GM, Taylor PM, Holmes MA, Wood JL.The Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Equine Fatalities (CEPEF-1) is an observational multi-institutional prospective study of recovery outcome at 7 days post operatively, as called for by Steffey (1991). Data from 6,255 general anaesthetics (February 91-March 93) were submitted confidentially by 62 clinics. The outcomes of 333 cases which were subjected to euthanasia and which were not classified 'alive' or 'died' at 7 days, were excluded from the analysis. The remaining 5922 cases were analysed to identify risk ratios (RR) between survivors and nonsurvivors for a variety of factors. Th...
McCrory P, Turner M.This chapter reviews the current evidence for the epidemiology of pediatric equestrian injuries. Methods: The relevant literature was searched through the use of MEDLINE (1966-2004) and SPORT DISCUS (1975-2004) searches, hand searches of journals and reference lists and discussions with experts and sporting organizations worldwide. Keywords and Mesh headings used in all searches included horse racing, children, pediatric injuries, sports injuries, equestrian injuries and sports trauma. Results: Limited data exist on the epidemiology of pediatric equestrian injuries. Most studies note the high ...
Fortina M, Maniscalco P, Carulli C, Meccariello L, Colasanti GB, Carta S.Horse racing is a hazardous sport. We analyzed the incidence and characteristics of jockey injuries in a typical horse race. Methods: We analyzed all injuries sustained by 224 jockeys in the last 72 years. Results: It was found that in 96.1% of the races there was at least one fall and in 28.6% of the races 50% or more of the jockeys fell. In 43.4% of the falls, the jockey was taken to the emergency room. Comparing the Palio with traditional races in other countries, a higher injury incidence rate was observed for every 100 falls (109.884 vs 27-59) and a lower concussion rate/100 falls (0.97 v...
Eckert V, Lockemann U, Püschel K, Meenen NM, Hessler C.To analyze horse-related accidents caused by hoof kicks. Methods: Prospective study to evaluate hoof kick-related accidents. Methods: Multicenter study, including 9 trauma centers in Hamburg, Germany. Methods: Patients who were treated as the result of a hoof kick between January 1, 2010, and May 1, 2010, were included in the study. Methods: Horse and rider qualifications, riders' use of protective equipment, location and activity at time of accident, mechanism of injury, injuries sustained, and treatment required for these injuries. Results: Twenty-four equestrians received hoof kicks. The av...
Shirazi-Beechey SP.Equine colic, a disorder manifested in abdominal pain, is the most frequent cause of emergency treatment and death in horses. Colic often requires intestinal surgery, subsequent hospitalisation and post operative care, with a strong risk of complications arising from surgery. Therefore strategies that explore approaches for preventing the condition are essential. To this end, a better understanding of the factors and mechanisms that lead to the development of colic and related intestinal diseases in the horse allows the design of preventive procedures. Colic is a multifactorial disorder that a...
Koenig J, Cote N.Colic is a common problem encountered in equine practice. Alteration of gastrointestinal motility is often the underlying cause for abdominal pain. Gastrointestinal motility can be measured as myoelectric activity, mechanical activity, and transit of intraluminal contents. Regulation of motility is based on a complex interaction between central innervation, autonomic innervation, and the enteric nervous system. Various humoral and neurochemical substances are required to interact flawlessly to allow propulsive motility. Ileus is defined as the absence of propulsive aboral movement of gastroint...
Newton AM, Nielsen AM.The literature contains many studies on the types of injuries sustained in horseback riding incidents. Most advocate the use of equestrian helmets to prevent head trauma. However, information is limited on other specific prevention strategies. Methods: A 4-year, retrospective, and prospective review of medical records pertaining to horse-related injuries in a southwestern Colorado hospital yielded a sample of 85 patients who had been injured while riding or tending to horses. In addition to the record review, patients were interviewed during ED discharge, inpatient treatment, or in a follow-up...
Gierup J, Larsson M, Lennquist S.A prospective one-year study of horse-riding accidents was performed in an area with a very high frequency of amateur riding. Totally 174 patients with riding injuries were registered--66% children--making an incidence of only 0.7 per thousand riding occasions. However, many of these injuries were of a severe nature, one leading to death and 27 of the patients reporting persisting symptoms at follow-up one year after the accident. Eleven per cent of the accidents lead to cerebral injuries and 44% to fractures, mainly of the upper extremities. Eleven per cent required hospitalization and 17% op...
Lambert JL, Fernandez NJ, Roy MF.Band cells and toxic neutrophils are thought to indicate acute and severe systemic illness but no studies have investigated their importance in adult equine emergency admissions. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of band cells and toxic neutrophils with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and outcome in horses. Methods: One hundred and five adult horses admitted on emergency basis to a private primary referral practice. Methods: Prospective observational study with sample collection. All horses admitted on emergency basis over the study period we...
Radcliffe RM, Divers TJ, Fletcher DJ, Mohammed H, Kraus MS.To evaluate changes in plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and L-lactate (LLt) as prognostic indicators in horses undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. Methods: Prospective observational study. Methods: Veterinary teaching hospital. Methods: Thirty-four horses undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. Methods: Serial blood sampling during various times during hospitalization (hospital admission, and 12, 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively) evaluating cTnI and LLt concentrations. Results: All horses required surgery for correction of a strangulating (n = 29) or nonstrangulating obstruction (n = 5) of...
Acton AS, Gaw CE, Chounthirath T, Smith GA.Horse-related injuries can cause severe morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study is to investigate the epidemiological features of horse-related injuries treated in emergency departments (EDs) in the United States. A retrospective analysis of horse-related injuries from 1990 through 2017 was conducted utilizing the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Cases were identified using the NEISS code 1239 (Horseback Riding: Activity, Apparel, or Equipment). Analyses performed included calculation of national injury estimates, relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence int...
Hobbs GD, Yealy DM, Rivas J.A retrospective chart review was conducted to define the demographic and injury patterns of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). The setting is a rural/small urban tertiary care center with approximately 40,000 visits per year. All patients presenting to the ED from January 1986 through December 1990 with equestrian-related injuries were enrolled in the study. Measurements included age, sex, mechanism of injury, injury or injuries diagnosed, admission to the hospital, morbidity, and mortality. A total of 142 patients met the inclusion criteria. The majority of injuries occurre...
