FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Cureus / Horse and Cattle-Related Trauma: A Retrospective Review of I...
Cureus2023; 15(3); e35746; doi: 10.7759/cureus.35746

Horse and Cattle-Related Trauma: A Retrospective Review of Injuries and Management in a Regional Queensland Hospital.

Abstract: Horse and cattle-related trauma is a common presentation to regional hospitals in Australia. We review local incidence and patterns of injuries relating to horse and cattle trauma over a three-year period at the Toowoomba Base Hospital within the Darling Downs region in Queensland, an area rich in cattle farming and equestrian recreation. Methods: We conducted a single-centre retrospective cohort study. The inclusion criteria were all patients presenting with injuries following cattle or horse-related incidents between January 2018 and April 2021. Primary outcomes were the mechanism of trauma, confirmed injuries, and the need for admission, operative intervention, or inter-hospital transfer. Results: A total of 1002 individuals (55% female; mean age 34 years; median Injury Severity Score (ISS) 2) were identified during the study period. Presentations relating to horses (81%) were more frequent than cattle (19%). The most common mechanism of injury was "falling" for horse incidents (68%) and "trampling" for cattle incidents (40%). Horse incidents often resulted in soft tissue injury (55%), upper limb fracture (19%), or lower limb fracture (9%). Cattle incidents often resulted in soft tissue injury (57%), upper limb fracture (15%), and rib fracture (15%). Overall, 14% required admission, 13% required operative intervention, and 1% required inter-hospital transfer. Conclusions: This local series demonstrates a high volume of cattle and horse-related trauma in our region. Whilst most patients are managed locally without operative intervention, the high frequency of injuries observed necessitates further development of preventative measures and safety advocacy.
Copyright © 2023, Savage et al.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2023-03-03 PubMed ID: 36895523PubMed Central: PMC9988439DOI: 10.7759/cureus.35746Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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 focuses on the analysis of injuries obtained from horse and cattle-related incidents, their patterns, severity, and management over a period of three years, in a regional hospital in Queensland, Australia, with the aim to understand the need for preventative measures and safety advocacy.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study, in which past records and data were used to identify and analyze patterns related to the problem at hand.
  • During the period of January 2018 to April 2021, all patients that came in with injuries following incidents related to cattle or horses were included in the study.
  • The primary outcomes observed were the mechanisms of trauma, the confirmed injuries, and the patient’s subsequent need for admission, operative intervention, or transfer to another hospital.

Results

  • Over the period of the study, 1002 individuals were identified, comprising of more female subjects. The presentations related to horses were distinctly more common than those related to cattle.
  • The study found that the most prevalent mechanism of injury was ‘falling’ for incidents involving horses, and ‘trampling’ for those involving cattle.
  • Typically, horse-related incidents resulted in soft tissue injuries, upper limb fractures, and lower limb fractures. On the other hand, cattle-related incidents caused soft tissue injuries, as well as upper limb and rib fractures.
  • Moreover, out of all the individuals, 14% required admission into the hospital, while 13% needed operative intervention, and only 1% required a transfer to another hospital.

Conclusion

  • The research enlightens the high frequency and volume of horse and cattle-related trauma in the surveyed region in Australia. It illustrates the need and importance for adequate preventative measures and safety advocacy.
  • Additionally, the results of the study justifies the need for operative intervention only in a small percentage of cases, emphasizing that most patients can be managed locally.

Cite This Article

APA
Savage G, Liesegang A, Campbell J, Lyon M, Fry D. (2023). Horse and Cattle-Related Trauma: A Retrospective Review of Injuries and Management in a Regional Queensland Hospital. Cureus, 15(3), e35746. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.35746

Publication

Cureus
ISSN: 2168-8184
NlmUniqueID: 101596737
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 3
Pages: e35746
PII: e35746

Researcher Affiliations

Savage, Gabriella
  • General Surgery, Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, Toowoomba, AUS.
Liesegang, Amanda
  • General Surgery, Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, Toowoomba, AUS.
Campbell, Jakob
  • General Surgery, Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, Toowoomba, AUS.
Lyon, Matthew
  • General Surgery, Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, Toowoomba, AUS.
Fry, Damian
  • General Surgery, Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, Toowoomba, AUS.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

References

This article includes 20 references
  1. Lang J, Sathivelu M, Tetsworth K, Pollard C, Harvey K, Bellamy N. The epidemiology of horse-related injuries for different horse exposures, activities, and age groups in Queensland, Australia.. J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2014 Jan;76(1):205-12.
    pubmed: 24368381doi: 10.1097/ta.0b013e3182a9007egoogle scholar: lookup
  2. Theodore JE, Theodore SG, Stockton KA, Kimble RM. Paediatric horse-related trauma.. J Paediatr Child Health 2017 Jun;53(6):543-550.
    pubmed: 28268253doi: 10.1111/jpc.13471google scholar: lookup
  3. Pinidiyapathirage J, Kitchener S, McNamee S, Wynter S, Langford J, Doyle A, McMahon A. Analysis of agriculture-related life-threatening injuries presenting to emergency departments of rural generalist hospitals in Southern Queensland.. Emerg Med Australas 2019 Aug;31(4):587-592.
    pubmed: 30536722doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.13215google scholar: lookup
  4. Gross I, Hadar A, Bala M, Hashavya S. The Epidemiology, Injury Patterns and Outcomes of Horse-Related Injuries in Israeli Children.. Isr Med Assoc J 2019 Apr;21(4):279-282.
    pubmed: 31032572
  5. Rhind JH, Quinn D, Cosbey L, Mobley D, Britton I, Lim J. Cattle-Related Trauma: A 5-Year Retrospective Review in a Adult Major Trauma Center.. J Emerg Trauma Shock 2021 Apr-Jun;14(2):86-91.
    pmc: PMC8312910pubmed: 34321806doi: 10.4103/jets.jets_92_20google scholar: lookup
  6. Nogalski A, Jankiewicz L, Cwik G, Karski J, Matuszewski Ł. Animal related injuries treated at the Department of Trauma and Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Lublin.. Ann Agric Environ Med 2007;14(1):57-61.
    pubmed: 17655178
  7. Watts M, Meisel EM. Cattle associated trauma--a one year prospective study of all injuries.. Injury 2011 Oct;42(10):1084-7.
    pubmed: 21450289doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2011.02.019google scholar: lookup
  8. Murphy CG, McGuire CM, O'Malley N, Harrington P. Cow-related trauma: a 10-year review of injuries admitted to a single institution.. Injury 2010 May;41(5):548-50.
    pubmed: 19729160doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2009.08.006google scholar: lookup
  9. Thompson K, McGreevy P, McManus P. A Critical Review of Horse-Related Risk: A Research Agenda for Safer Mounts, Riders and Equestrian Cultures.. Animals (Basel) 2015 Jul 17;5(3):561-75.
    pmc: PMC4598694pubmed: 26479374doi: 10.3390/ani5030372google scholar: lookup
  10. . Cattle numbers - as at June 2019.. 2019.
  11. . Participation in Sport and Physical Recreation, 2011-2012 - ABS.. 2012.
  12. . Guide to managing risks in cattle handling 2020.. 2020.
  13. . Annual Report 2021-2022 - Darling Downs Health.. 2022.
  14. Altgärde J, Redéen S, Hilding N, Drott P. Horse-related trauma in children and adults during a two year period.. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 2014 Jul 17;22:40.
    pmc: PMC4347583pubmed: 25030979doi: 10.1186/s13049-014-0040-8google scholar: lookup
  15. Acton AS, Gaw CE, Chounthirath T, Smith GA. Nonfatal horse-related injuries treated in emergency departments in the United States, 1990-2017.. Am J Emerg Med 2020 Jun;38(6):1062-1068.
    pubmed: 31402233doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2019.158366google scholar: lookup
  16. . A Snapshot of Australia’s Agricultural Workforce: Australian Government, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.. 2016.
  17. . The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Australia, Clinical Practice Guideline on Chest Trauma.. 2018.
  18. Australia HS. Australia HS. Standards for Riding Programs.. 2019.
  19. . Guide to Managing Risks When New and Inexperienced Persons Interact With Horses.. 2014.
  20. . Cattle Handling and Safety - A Practical Guide.. 2015.

Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Riley CB, Padalino B, Rogers CW, Thompson KR. Human Injuries Associated with the Transport of Horses by Road.. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 10;13(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13101594pubmed: 37238024google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.