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Home / Equine Research Bank / Unfallchirurg / [Cervical spine injury in equestrian sports].
Der Unfallchirurg2016; 120(6); 494-500; doi: 10.1007/s00113-016-0154-8

[Cervical spine injury in equestrian sports].

Abstract: The cervical spine is considered fragile and vulnerable to injuries in equestrian sport. This retrospective study investigates the injury pattern and severity. Patients of the medical university in Hannover from the years 2006-2011, who had an equestrian accident, were identified. Patients who had been injured in the course of their work were excluded. Results counted with a p-value < 0.05 were considered significant. In 13.1% of patients, there were 71 cervical spine injuries (92.4% female; 7.6% male). The mean age was 27.1 ± 13.2 years. Of these, 86.4% associated the injury to the riding accident. In 56 cases, it concerned falls from the horse. In 13.6% of the cases, the injury was caused while handling the horse. Sprains were most common (70.4%). Fractures of the neck vertebrae were found in 22.5% of the cases. The mean ISS was 7.0 ± 5.8 pts. Polytrauma was identified in 6.1% of patients (ISS ≥ 16 Pkt). The most common accompanying injury presented was an injury to the head (29.2%; p = 0.003). Of the 30 hospitalized patients, 13.3% were admitted to intensive medical care for 2.3 ± 15.4 d. The mortality was 0%. Injuries of the cervical spine are not to be underestimated in their frequency and severity. It is shown that, especially with injuries of the head and thoracic and lumbar spine area, patients are at increased risk of concurrent cervical lesions. The prevention of neck injuries is currently done in the form of riding helmets, airbag jackets, riding behavior and education. Further study of the prevention of neck injuries is required.
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Publication Date: 2016-03-16 PubMed ID: 26975502DOI: 10.1007/s00113-016-0154-8Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research study examines the pattern and severity of cervical spine injuries in equestrian sports. Using historical data from a medical university, the study finds these injuries to be frequent and severe, often associated with falls from the horse, and requiring further study for prevention measures.

Research Methodology

  • The study uses a retrospective approach, analyzing medical data from patients who had equestrian accidents between 2006-2011 in the medical university in Hannover.
  • Those injured in the course of work were excluded from the study, and statistical significance was measured using a p-value less than 0.05.

Findings

  • The study found that 13.1% of patients had suffered from cervical spine injuries, with most (92.4%) being female and the remaining (7.6%) male.
  • The average age of the injured patients was approximately 27 years and a majority (86.4%) attributed the injury to the equestrian accident.
  • Most of the injuries were due to falls from the horse (56 cases), while a few were sustained while handling the horse (13.6% of the total cases).
  • The most common type of injury was sprains accounting for around 70.4% of injuries while fractures of the neck vertebrae comprised 22.5% of the cases.

Impacts and Accompanying Injuries

  • The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was found to be 7.0, indicating moderate injury.
  • Polytrauma, or multiple severe and potentially life-threatening injuries, was present in 6.1% of the patients.
  • The most common associated injury was to the head (29.2% of cases), indicating a high risk of concurrent injuries to the head and cervical spine area.
  • There were no fatalities reported amongst the hospitalized patients. However, 13.3% required intensive medical care.

Implications and Current Prevention Methods

  • The study underscores the severity and frequency of cervical spine injuries in equestrian sports, highlighting the need for further research into preventive measures for these injuries.
  • Current prevention methods discussed in the study include riding helmets, airbag jackets, improving riding behavior, and education.

Cite This Article

APA
Schröter C, Schulte-Sutum A, Busch M, Winkelmann M, Macke C, Zeckey C, Krettek C, Mommsen P. (2016). [Cervical spine injury in equestrian sports]. Unfallchirurg, 120(6), 494-500. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00113-016-0154-8

Publication

Der Unfallchirurg
ISSN: 1433-044X
NlmUniqueID: 8502736
Country: Germany
Language: ger
Volume: 120
Issue: 6
Pages: 494-500

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.
Busch, M
  • 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.
Macke, C
  • 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.
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
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Athletic Injuries / mortality
  • Cervical Vertebrae / injuries
  • Child
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Trauma / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Spinal Fractures / epidemiology
  • Trauma Severity Indices
  • Young Adult

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Stier R, Tavassol F, Dupke C, Rüter M, Jehn P, Gellrich NC, Spalthoff S. Retrospective analysis of 15 years of horse-related maxillofacial fracture data at a major German trauma center. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2022 Aug;48(4):2539-2546.
    doi: 10.1007/s00068-020-01450-wpubmed: 32699917google scholar: lookup
  2. Weber CD, Nguyen AR, Lefering R, Hofman M, Hildebrand F, Pape HC. Blunt injuries related to equestrian sports: results from an international prospective trauma database analysis. Int Orthop 2017 Oct;41(10):2105-2112.
    doi: 10.1007/s00264-017-3592-1pubmed: 28801837google scholar: lookup
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