Injury patterns of equine-related trauma: A fifteen-year review of hospital admissions to a level 1 trauma center.

This research paper investigates patterns of horse-related injuries that led to hospital admissions over a 15-year period in a Level 1 trauma center in the Western United States. The study reveals that such injuries are more frequent among females, often affect the lower extremities in adults and the head in children and youth, and frequently occur in the absence of helmet use, indicating areas for focused injury prevention measures.

Research Aim and Methodology

• The primary goal of the study was to characterize the injury patterns of individuals admitted to a Level 1 trauma center due to horse-related incidents.
• To achieve this, researchers conducted a retrospective review of the hospital’s trauma registry data from a 15-year period, specifically investigating 512 non-fatal equine-related injuries.
• Factors under consideration in the analysis included demographics such as age and sex, as well as specifics of the incident and injury, such as helmet use, severity of injury, anatomical region injured, and duration of hospital stay.

Key Findings

• The study found that horse-related injuries were most frequent among females.
• In terms of injury location, among adults the lower extremity (including the pelvis) was most frequently injured, while in children and youth, the head was the most commonly impacted region.
• Despite the significant risks of head injury associated with horse activities, the majority of patients suffering head injuries had not been wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.
• Importantly, those who suffered the most severe head injuries were the least likely to have been wearing a helmet.

Implications and Recommendations

• These findings underscore a high proportion of preventable injuries in equine-related incidents, which are spread across all age groups and affect various parts of the body.
• The research suggests an urgent need for increased education and awareness campaigns targeted at those in the horse industry, as well as the general public, about horse safety and injury prevention.
• Result also support the need to emphasize the use of proper protective equipment like helmets when engaging in horse-related activities.