Horse-related injuries in children – unmounted injuries are more severe: A retrospective review.

This research paper investigates the severity and patterns of horse-related injuries among children, and compares mounted injuries (those sustained while riding horses) to unmounted injuries (those sustained while around horses, but not riding them). The study found that unmounted injuries were generally more severe than mounted ones, and that they presented unique demographic features and injury spectrums compared with mounted injuries.

Methodology

• The researchers reviewed trauma registry data for 505 paediatric patients, aged less than 16 years, who were admitted to a large paediatric trauma center with horse-related injuries over a 16-year period.
• Patients were classified into two groups: mounted and unmounted, based on whether they were riding a horse or simply around horses during the incident of the injury.
• They compared data in demographics, injury spectrum, injury severity, and helmet usage between both groups using odds ratios and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.

Results

• More than half (56%) of the injuries occurred in a private setting, rather than a sport or supervised context (23%).
• Head injuries were identified as the most common type of horse-related injury.
• Of the cohort, 77% were mounted patients. Mounted patients had a higher likelihood of sustaining upper limb fractures or spinal injuries, and they also wore helmets more often.
• Unmounted patients were generally younger males. They were more likely to sustain facial or abdominal injuries.
• Astonishingly, unmounted children had significantly more severe injuries, and they stayed longer in the hospital. They were twice as likely to require intensive care or surgery and eight times more likely to sustain a severe head injury.

Conclusions

• The researchers concluded that horse-related injuries in children are serious. There is a clear distinction between mounted and unmounted patients concerning gender, age, use of personal protective equipment, severity of injuries, and the need for intensive or invasive care.
• The study highlights the necessity of vigilant safety measures when unmounted and around horses, proposing specific targets for injury prevention campaigns, in both organized and private equestrian activities.