[Kick injuries of veterinarians during examination and treatment of horses: a retrospective study in Switzerland].

The research study investigates the risk of injury to veterinarians when treating horses, particularly due to kick injuries, and provides information to potentially reduce these risks.

Study Methodology and Findings

• The study was conducted retrospectively by administering questionnaires to 700 veterinary practitioners in Switzerland. The goal was to gauge the frequency and severity of kick injuries when dealing with horses.
• Out of the total questionnaires, 216 were fully completed and evaluated for the study.
• The results indicated that the frequency of kick injuries was affected by several variables including the professional experience of the veterinarian, whether the veterinarian was a horse owner or not, the season during which the interaction took place, the type of procedure involved, the proportion of hrose patients in the practice, the location of treatment (stable or pasture), and whether the horse was chemically restrained or not.
• The study also found that more severe injuries were infrequent but often resulted from rushed procedures due to time constraints or unexpected events causing anxiety to the horse.

Risk Factors & Recommendations

• Risk factors identified include the proportion of horses in the practice population, the location of the treatment, the type of procedure, and whether or not the horse was chemically sedated.
• Based on these findings, it should be feasible to reduce the risk of injuries. The proposed practices to reduce injuries are through the sedation of horses, especially during painful procedures, choosing a safe treatment location, and the practice of caution by the veterinarian.

Study Impact

• This research provides significant insights into the risk factors affecting injuries to veterinarians during horse treatments and proposes practical solutions to mitigate such risks.
• The findings could be instrumental in influencing vet practice guidelines in dealing with equines and teaching new vets about the potential hazards in this subsection of the profession.