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Agricultural Farm-Related Head Injuries in Rural India: A Case Series.
Abstract: Farm-related head injuries are a significant cause of death and disability in rural households. Traumatic brain injury can result in long-term disability. The use of modern farming equipment has increased in the Indian agricultural sector over the last few decades. Machines such as threshers and winnowing devices can cause open skull fractures or scalp avulsions, while the fall of heavy tools may lead to severe head trauma. Farm animals such as bullocks and horses can also inflict traumatic brain injuries with their pointed horns, through trampling, kicking, or rarely biting. We present a case series of four patients who sustained head injuries due to farm-related accidents. All patients sustained compound cranial fractures with underlying brain parenchymal injuries, and three of them achieved complete recovery following timely medical intervention.
Copyright © 2025 Korean Neurotraumatology Society.
Publication Date: 2025-04-22 PubMed ID: 40353283PubMed Central: PMC12062818DOI: 10.13004/kjnt.2025.21.e11Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
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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.
Agricultural farm-related head injuries in rural India are a major cause of death and disability, often resulting from accidents involving farming machinery and animals. This study presents a case series of four patients with such injuries and highlights outcomes following medical treatment.
Background and Significance
- Farm-related head injuries contribute significantly to mortality and morbidity in rural Indian households.
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) from these incidents can lead to long-term disability affecting individuals’ quality of life and family livelihoods.
- The increase in the use of modern farming equipment, such as threshers and winnowing devices, has altered the nature and frequency of injuries sustained on farms.
Types and Causes of Injuries
- Modern machinery can cause open skull fractures or scalp avulsions, which are severe injuries involving disruption of the skull and scalp.
- Heavy tools falling onto the head can result in major head trauma.
- Farm animals, including bullocks and horses, can inflict traumatic brain injuries through their horns, kicking, trampling, or biting, although biting is rare.
Case Series Overview
- The study presents four cases of patients who suffered head injuries related to farm accidents.
- All patients experienced compound cranial fractures—open breaks in the skull—and associated damage to the brain tissue (brain parenchymal injuries).
- The diversity in injury mechanisms included machinery accidents and animal-inflicted trauma.
Treatment and Outcomes
- Timely medical intervention was crucial in managing the injuries sustained by the patients.
- Three of the four patients fully recovered, demonstrating that prompt and appropriate care can lead to favorable outcomes.
- The study emphasizes the importance of access to emergency medical services in rural areas to reduce death and disability from farm-related head injuries.
Implications and Recommendations
- There is a need for increased awareness about the risks associated with modern agricultural equipment and farm animals.
- Preventative strategies should be developed including safety training for farmers, the use of protective headgear, and safer handling of machinery.
- Improving healthcare infrastructure in rural regions can enhance the chances of recovery following traumatic brain injuries due to farm accidents.
- Further research could focus on a larger population to understand the epidemiology and develop tailored interventions for farm-related head injuries.
Cite This Article
APA
Hakeem A, Kumar H, Anwer M, Khan AV, Kumar D, Sridhar R, Kumar A, Kumar A.
(2025).
Agricultural Farm-Related Head Injuries in Rural India: A Case Series.
Korean J Neurotrauma, 21(2), 137-151.
https://doi.org/10.13004/kjnt.2025.21.e11 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Trauma Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India.
- Department of Trauma Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India.
- Department of Trauma Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India.
- Department of Trauma Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India.
- Department of Trauma Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India.
- Department of Trauma Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India.
- Department of Trauma Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India.
- Department of Trauma Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Conflict of Interest: The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.
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