Equine-related neurosurgical trauma: a prospective series of 30 patients.
Abstract: 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 male. Age ranged from 3 to 64 years. Five patients died (17%), and two suffered permanent paralysis. There were 24 head injuries (80%) and 9 spinal injuries (30%). The majority of injuries (60%) were caused by ejection or fall from the horse. Twelve patients (40%) were kicked by a horse, and four patients sustained crush injuries. Six patients underwent craniotomy, three had operative spinal stabilization, and five required ventriculostomy. Eleven patients (37%) were professional riders. Twenty-four patients (80%) were not wearing helmets, including all fatalities and craniotomy patients. Our data show that equine-related neurosurgical injuries can be severe and fatal because of the significant size, force, and unpredictability of these animals as well as the lack of proper headgear. We recommend that helmets be worn at all times around horses because a significant number of our patients (33%) were injured as bystanders. Risk of serious injury appears to be a function of cumulative exposure to horses, not level of expertise. Experience is not protective; helmets are.
Publication Date: 1997-07-01 PubMed ID: 9253915DOI: 10.1097/00005373-199707000-00022Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates the risk of severe neurosurgical trauma in horse-riding activities. The study finds that horse-related injuries can be grave and potentially fatal, largely due to the size and unpredictability of horses and the rider’s lack of protective headgear.
Research Methodology
- The researchers carried out a prospective study on patients admitted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center.
- The patients suffered from equine-related neurosurgical trauma, and their cases were recorded from July 1992 to January 1996.
Demographic Details
- Of the 30 patients, 18 were male.
- The age of the patients ranged from as young as 3 years old to as old as 64 years old.
Injury Details
- Five out of the 30 patients died, marking a mortality rate of 17% among the cases.
- 24 patients, or 80% of the total, suffered head injuries, and 9 patients, or 30% of all those involved in the study, sustained spinal injuries.
- In the majority of cases, the cause of the injuries (60%) was being thrown or falling off the horses.
- The other 40% were injured due to being kicked by the horses, while 4 patients suffered crush injuries.
Treatment Details
- Six patients had to undergo craniotomy; three were subject to operative spinal stabilization, and five required ventriculostomy.
Helmet Usage and Professional Status
- All fatalities and patients who had to undergo craniotomy belonged to the group of people not wearing helmets when injured. This group consisted of 24 patients or 80% of all cases.
- Eleven patients, or 37%, were professional riders.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that equine-related neurosurgical injuries can be extreme and sometimes fatal.
- The significant size, force, unpredictability of the horses, and the lack of proper headgear among the riders contribute to the severity of the injuries.
- The researchers recommend that helmets should always be worn around horses, as 33% of the injuries occurred to bystanders, not just riders.
- The research also suggests that the risk of serious injury is correlated with the amount of exposure to horses, regardless of the level of expertise. Hence, experience does not necessarily equate to lower risk.
Cite This Article
APA
Kriss TC, Kriss VM.
(1997).
Equine-related neurosurgical trauma: a prospective series of 30 patients.
J Trauma, 43(1), 97-99.
https://doi.org/10.1097/00005373-199707000-00022 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington 40536-0084, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Animals
- Athletic Injuries / pathology
- Athletic Injuries / surgery
- Central Nervous System / injuries
- Central Nervous System / surgery
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Female
- Horses
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Prospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 17 times.- Sritharan R, Blore CD, Gahir DS. Maxillofacial Horse Trauma: A 10-Year Retrospective Study at a UK Major Trauma Center. Craniomaxillofac Trauma Reconstr 2022 Sep;15(3):201-205.
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- Schröter C, Schulte-Sutum A, Busch M, Winkelmann M, Macke C, Zeckey C, Krettek C, Mommsen P. [Cervical spine injury in equestrian sports]. Unfallchirurg 2017 Jun;120(6):494-500.
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