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BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation2023; 15(1); 46; doi: 10.1186/s13102-023-00646-y

Horse-riding hazards: an observational cohort study mapping equestrian related injuries at a Scandinavian trauma centre.

Abstract: Horse-riding is practiced on a regular basis by 500,000 people in Sweden. It is reputed to be one of the most dangerous sports. On average, there were 1756 acute injuries and three fatalities each year between 1997 and 2014 in Sweden related to horses. The primary aim of this study was to outline the injury spectrum related to equestrian activities cared for at a large Swedish trauma centre. The secondary aim was to identify trends in clinical outcomes and to investigate the association between age and such outcomes. Methods: The electronic medical records system at Karolinska University Hospital was queried for patients cared for due to equestrian related trauma between July 2010 and July 2020. Complementary data were gathered using the hospital's Trauma Registry. No exclusion criteria were applied. Descriptive statistics were used to outline the injury spectrum. Age was split into four categories which were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis H test or the Chi-squared test. Logistic regression was used to analyse correlations between age and outcomes. Results: A total of 3036 patients were included with 3325 injuries identified as equestrian related. The hospital admission rate was 24.9%. The cohort had one death. Regression analysis showed significant associations between decreasing risk of upper extremity injury (p < 0.001), increasing risk of vertebral fractures (p = 0.001) and increasing risk of thoracic injury (p < 0.001) with increasing age. Conclusions: Equestrian activities are not without risks. The morbidity is high, and injuries are taken seriously by the medical profession, reflected by the high admission rate. There are age-related variations in the injury spectrum. Older age appears to predispose to vertebral fractures and thoracic injuries. Other factors than age appear more important in determining the need for surgery or admission to ICU.
© 2023. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2023-03-28 PubMed ID: 36978116PubMed Central: PMC10045660DOI: 10.1186/s13102-023-00646-yGoogle 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 study discusses the risks associated with horse-riding. Over a ten-year period, it examined the type and severity of injuries cared for at a Swedish trauma center, noting a significant connection between increasing age and certain injury types like vertebral fractures and thoracic injuries.

Study Purpose and Methodology

The purpose of this research revolves around two main objectives:

  • Delineate the scope of injuries related to equestrian activities treated at a significant Swedish trauma center.
  • Spot trends in clinical outcomes and inspect the relationship between age and these outcomes.

To achieve these objectives, the researchers used the electronic medical records system at Karolinska University Hospital to search for patients treated for equestrian related trauma from July 2010 to July 2020. The hospital’s Trauma Registry was also used to gather complementary data.

A combination of descriptive statistics, the Kruskal-Wallis H test or the Chi-squared test, and logistic regression were used in analyzing the data and reviewing correlations between age and outcomes.

Study Findings

The study found out that out of 3036 patients with 3325 injuries classified as equestrian-related:

  • About 24.9% were admitted to the hospital indicating the severity of the injuries sustained
  • One death was recorded
  • There was an decreasing risk of upper extremity injury with increasing age
  • An association was noted between increasing age and a higher risk of vertebral fractures and thoracic injuries

Conclusions

The study concluded that equestrian activities do have significant associated risks. There’s substantial morbidity and the medical profession takes these injuries very seriously, as evidenced by the high hospital admission rates. There’s a clear variation in the injury spectrum according to age with older age predisposing individuals to vertebral fractures and thoracic injuries. However, age doesn’t seem to be a significant factor in determining the need for surgery or ICU admission.

Cite This Article

APA
Franzén Lindgren E, Hammarqvist F, Ahl Hulme R. (2023). Horse-riding hazards: an observational cohort study mapping equestrian related injuries at a Scandinavian trauma centre. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil, 15(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-023-00646-y

Publication

BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation
ISSN: 2052-1847
NlmUniqueID: 101605016
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 1
Pages: 46
PII: 46

Researcher Affiliations

Franzén Lindgren, Emilie
  • Medical School, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Hammarqvist, Folke
  • Division of Surgery, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Division of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, Department of Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Ahl Hulme, Rebecka
  • Division of Surgery, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. rebecka.ahl@ki.se.
  • Division of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, Department of Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. rebecka.ahl@ki.se.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest or competing interests with regards to this manuscript.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Stigson H, Klingegård M. Characteristics of equestrian accidents and injuries leading to permanent medical impairment. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2024 Sep 4;16(1):184.
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  2. Crawford AE, Picken LK, Gabriel FD, Quade J, Gould S. CNS and Thorax Injury and Associated Risks Factors in Equestrian Sports. Sports Health 2025 Jul;17(4):697-702.
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