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Der Unfallchirurg2015; 120(2); 129-138; doi: 10.1007/s00113-015-0074-z

[Accidents in equestrian sports : Analysis of injury mechanisms and patterns].

Abstract: Equestrian sports are one of the most popular forms of sport in Germany, while also being one of the most accident-prone sports. Furthermore, riding accidents are frequently associated with a high degree of severity of injuries and mortality. Nevertheless, there are insufficient data regarding incidences, demographics, mechanisms of accidents, injury severity and patterns and outcome of injured persons in amateur equestrian sports. Accordingly, it was the aim of the present study to retrospectively analyze these aspects. Methods: A total of 503 patients were treated in the emergency room of the Hannover Medical School because of an accident during recreational horse riding between 2006 and 2011. The female gender was predominantly affected with 89.5 %. The mean age of the patients was 26.2 ± 14.9 years and women (24.5 ± 12.5 years) were on average younger than men (40.2 ± 23.9 years). A special risk group was girls and young women aged between 10 and 39 years. The overall injury severity was measured using the injury severity score (ISS). Results: Based on the total population, head injuries were the most common location of injuries with 17.3 % followed by injuries to the upper extremities with 15.2 % and the thoracic and lumbar spine with 10.9 %. The three most common injury locations after falling from a horse were the head (17.5 %), the upper extremities (17.4 %), the thoracic and lumbar spine (12.9 %). The most frequent injuries while handling horses were foot injuries (17.2 %), followed by head (16.6 %) and mid-facial injuries (15.0 %). With respect to the mechanism of injury accidents while riding were predominant (74 %), while accidents when handling horses accounted for only 26 %. The median ISS was 9.8 points. The proportion of multiple trauma patients (ISS > 16) was 18.1 %. Based on the total sample, the average in-hospital patient stay was 5.3 ± 5.4 days with a significantly higher proportion of hospitalized patients in the group of riding accidents. Fatal cases were not found in this study but the danger of riding is not to be underestimated. The large number of sometimes severe injuries with ISS values up to 62 points can be interpreted as an indication that recreational riding can easily result in life-threatening situations. Conclusions: Girls and young women could be identified as a group at particular risk. It has been demonstrated in this study that the three most common injury locations after falling from a horse were the head, the upper extremities, the thoracic and lumbar spine. The most frequent injury locations while handling horses were foot injuries, followed by head and mid-facial injuries.
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Publication Date: 2015-10-10 PubMed ID: 26449915DOI: 10.1007/s00113-015-0074-zGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study focuses on presenting data on the incidence, demographics, and injury patterns in equestrian sports in Germany. It found that equestrian sports, particularly among young women, are risk-prone with injuries mainly occurring in the head, upper extremities, and thoracic and lumbar spine following a fall from a horse.

Objective and Methodology

  • The principal aim of this research was to provide an in-depth analysis of accidents in equestrian sports by examining incidences, demographics, accident mechanisms, and injury patterns and severity.
  • The study analyzed data retrospectively from 503 equestrian-related accidents, which required emergency treatment at the Hannover Medical School from 2006 to 2011.
  • Research focused on identifying injury patterns, severity, and the overall frequency of injuries among the participants.

Study Participants

  • The study noted a demographic focus on women, who represented around 89.5% of the total participants. Platforming a gender disparity in equestrian accidents.
  • It also identified a key risk group; young girls and women aged between 10 and 39 years.

Findings

  • According to the study, the most common injuries resulted in trauma to the head (17.3%), followed by the upper extremities (15.2%) and the thoracic and lumbar spine (10.9%).
  • The research illustrated that most injuries occurred while riding horses (74%) with only a quarter (26%) of accidents happening when individuals were handling horses.
  • Foot injuries were the most prevalent when handling horses, followed by head and mid-facial injuries.
  • The study also highlighted the substantial injury severity among the population, underlining the inherent risks of recreational horse riding. In some severe cases, injuries had ISS (Injury Severity Score) values as high as 62 points, pointing toward potential life-threatening situations.
  • Following equestrian accidents, affected individuals spent an average of 5.3 days in the hospital. However, the study reported no fatalities within the data sample.

Conclusion

  • The research concludes that girls and young women are at a particular risk while partaking in equestrian activities, mainly due to the high prevalence of injuries and the severity of these said hazards.
  • It identified that the most common injuries resulted from falling off a horse were located at the head, upper extremities, and thoracic and lumbar spine.
  • The study reiterated the need for prioritizing preventive measures and safety procedures, especially for this high-risk population, to mitigate the chances of severe and potentially life-threatening injuries.

Cite This Article

APA
Schröter C, Schulte-Sutum A, Zeckey C, Winkelmann M, Krettek C, Mommsen P. (2015). [Accidents in equestrian sports : Analysis of injury mechanisms and patterns]. Unfallchirurg, 120(2), 129-138. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00113-015-0074-z

Publication

Der Unfallchirurg
ISSN: 1433-044X
NlmUniqueID: 8502736
Country: Germany
Language: ger
Volume: 120
Issue: 2
Pages: 129-138

Researcher Affiliations

Schröter, C
  • Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland. schroeter.christian@mh-hannover.de.
Schulte-Sutum, A
  • Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland.
Zeckey, C
  • Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland.
Winkelmann, M
  • Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland.
Krettek, C
  • Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland.
Mommsen, P
  • Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland.

MeSH Terms

  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
  • Accidents / statistics & numerical data
  • Age Distribution
  • Animals
  • Arm Injuries / epidemiology
  • Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Foot Injuries / epidemiology
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multiple Trauma / diagnosis
  • Multiple Trauma / epidemiology
  • Multiple Trauma / therapy
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Distribution
  • Spinal Injuries / epidemiology

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
  1. Guo H, Chen N, Yang Y, Zhou X, Li X, Jiang Y, Huang J, Du Q. Ethnic Disparity in the Incidence of Scoliosis Among Adolescents in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, China. Front Public Health 2022;10:791550.
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  3. Krüger L, Hohberg M, Lehmann W, Dresing K. Assessing the risk for major injuries in equestrian sports. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2018;4(1):e000408.
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  4. Schröter C, Bielefeld M, Bielefeld D, Macke C, Winkelmann C, Mommsen P, Krettek C, Zeckey C. [Injury to the upper limbs and prevention in equestrian sports]. Unfallchirurg 2018 Feb;121(2):152-158.
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