Injuries associated with recreational horse riding and changes over the last 20 years: a review.
Abstract: To assess the incidence and distribution of recreational equestrian injuries seen in the Kent and Sussex region and review the available literature on this subject. Methods: This is a retrospective case series with historical controls. Methods: Kent and Sussex region, England. Methods: Injuries related to horses in the recreational setting. Methods: Subjects were selected from our acute injury database. Notes of all patients presenting with horse riding-related injuries between January and December 2010 were reviewed. Skeletal injuries were confirmed using our Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS) system. Data were tabulated and grouped using Microsoft Excel software. Statistics were calculated using Graph Pad software. Results: During the study period, 155 patients presented with a total of 199 injuries related to horses, accounting for 0.3% of all presentations; 69% were soft tissue injuries. The most commonly affected areas were the extremities (77 patients, 49.7%) followed by injuries to the head (38 patients, 24.5%) and trunk (36 patients, 23.2%). Seventeen patients (11%) were admitted. Patients presenting with head injuries suffered significantly more injuries compared to other groups (1.65 compared to 1.4 injuries, p < 0.0002). Conclusions: A larger number of persons were riding for a longer period of the year compared to previous studies in the United Kingdom. There was also a shift in the patterns of injury seen in this population over the last two to three decades.
Publication Date: 2013-04-22 PubMed ID: 23772313PubMed Central: PMC3681230DOI: 10.1177/2042533313476688Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research conducted investigates the pattern, incidence, and type of injuries related to recreational horse riding in the Kent and Sussex region, England. The study draws from data in 2010 and notices a change in injury trends over the last 20-30 years.
Research Methodology
- This study involved a retrospective look at cases with historical controls, meaning it evaluated patient data from the past and compared it with more recent cases.
- The investigators selected subjects from their acute injury database. All notes from patients who presented with horse riding-related injuries during 2010 were reviewed for this study.
- Confirmation of skeletal injuries was done through their Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS) system.
- Data was compiled, sorted and analysed using Microsoft Excel and Graph Pad software.
Research Findings
- The study noted a total of 155 patients with 199 injuries related to recreational horse riding, making up 0.3% of all presentations.
- Approximately 69% of these injuries were soft tissue injuries.
- In terms of the bodily location of injuries, the extremities, including arms and legs, were most frequently affected (accounting for around 49.7% of cases).
- This was followed by head injuries (24.5%) and trunk injuries (23.2%).
- Out of all patients, 17 (or 11%) required hospital admission.
- Patients with head injuries significantly sustained more injuries in comparison to other groups.
Conclusion
- The researchers observed that more people were engaging in horse riding for longer periods throughout the year, compared to previous studies in the U.K.
- In addition, there has been a noticeable shift in the patterns of injuries among this population within the last two to three decades.
- Understanding these changes in injury patterns could be important for developing improved preventative measures and treatment options.
Cite This Article
APA
Sandiford N, Buckle C, Alao U, Davidson J, Ritchie J.
(2013).
Injuries associated with recreational horse riding and changes over the last 20 years: a review.
JRSM Short Rep, 4(5), 2042533313476688.
https://doi.org/10.1177/2042533313476688 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Conquest Hospital, The Ridge, Hastings TN37 7RD, UK.
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Citations
This article has been cited 3 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.
- Abdulkarim A, Juhdi A, Coffey P, Edelson L. Equestrian Injury Presentations to a Regional Trauma Centre in Ireland.. Emerg Med Int 2018;2018:7394390.
- Young JD, Gelbs JC, Zhu DS, Gallacher SE, Sutton KM, Blaine TA. Orthopaedic Injuries in Equestrian Sports: A Current Concepts Review.. Orthop J Sports Med 2015 Sep;3(9):2325967115603924.
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