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Trauma surgery & acute care open2021; 6(1); e000728; doi: 10.1136/tsaco-2021-000728

Hearing hoofbeats? Think head and neck trauma: a 10-year NTDB analysis of equestrian-related trauma in the USA.

Abstract: There is a paucity of evidence about traumatic injuries and their sequelae sustained due to equestrian injuries nationally. Methods: Retrospective study analyzing National Trauma Data Bank data from 2007 to 2016. Variables collected included age, sex, race, payer status, Injury Severity Score (ISS), hospital length of stay, Glasgow Coma Scale, systolic blood pressure (SBP) at presentation, discharge disposition, and mortality. Patient data were analyzed by anatomic region. Results: The most frequent type of injury was in the thorax, but head and neck injuries produced the highest mortality. Increased ISS and an SBP of less than 90 mm Hg were also significant predictors of mortality. Conclusions: The risk of hospital admission from equestrian injuries is higher than football, motor vehicle racing, and skiing. Preventive measures and campaigns should be instituted to highlight safety practices and the use of personal protective equipment while on horseback either for sports, leisure, or work. Methods: Level IV. Retrospective study.
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
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Publication Date: 2021-09-14 PubMed ID: 34595353PubMed Central: PMC8442081DOI: 10.1136/tsaco-2021-000728Google 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.

The research article looks into the nature of traumatic injuries resulting from equestrian activities in the U.S over a 10-year period, revealing that the most frequent injury is to the thorax; however, head and neck injuries have the highest mortality rate.

Study Methodology

  • The study was a retrospective observation examining data from the National Trauma Data Bank from the years 2007 to 2016.
  • This database collects information on varying patient features, such as age, sex, race, and payer status.
  • Medical variables considered in the study include the Injury Severity Score (ISS), hospital stay length, Glasgow Coma Scale, systolic blood pressure (SBP) at presentation, disposition upon discharge, and mortality rate.
  • The researchers then scrutinized the collected data based on anatomic regions affected by the injuries.

Findings

  • It was found that injuries to the thorax (the area between the neck and the abdomen) were the most common type of injury resulting from equestrian activities.
  • However, despite being less frequent, injuries to the head and neck proved to be the most deadly.
  • The study also identified that a higher ISS and a low SBP of less than 90 mm Hg at presentation were significant predictors of mortality in these cases.

Conclusions and Recommendations

  • The risk of hospital admission as a result of injuries from equestrian activities was found to be higher than football, motor vehicle racing, and skiing.
  • In light of these findings, the study suggests that safety campaigns and other preventative measures should be implemented. These should emphasize safety practices and encourage the use of personal protective equipment during horseback riding activities. This recommendation applies regardless of whether the riding is for sporting events, leisure, or occupational tasks.

Study Classification

  • The research is classified as a Level IV retrospective study. This means it is a case series where the subjects are those who have already had a particular outcome, and the researchers have utilized historical data to identify variables associated with the outcome.

Cite This Article

APA
Mutore K, Lim J, Fofana D, Torres-Reveron A, Skubic JJ. (2021). Hearing hoofbeats? Think head and neck trauma: a 10-year NTDB analysis of equestrian-related trauma in the USA. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open, 6(1), e000728. https://doi.org/10.1136/tsaco-2021-000728

Publication

Trauma surgery & acute care open
ISSN: 2397-5776
NlmUniqueID: 101698646
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 6
Issue: 1
Pages: e000728
PII: e000728

Researcher Affiliations

Mutore, Kevin
  • School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA.
Lim, Jiyun
  • School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA.
Fofana, Demba
  • School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas, USA.
Torres-Reveron, Annelyn
  • Center of Excellence for Trauma Research in the Border Region, DHR Health Institute for Research and Development, Edinburg, Texas, USA.
  • Sur180 Therapeutics, LLC, McAllen, Texas, USA.
Skubic, Jeffrey J
  • Surgery Institute, DHR Health, Edinburg, Texas, USA.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Competing interests: JJS is employed by Renaissance Medical Foundation, the medical group that provides clinical services to DHR Health.

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Citations

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