Nonfatal horse-related injuries treated in emergency departments in the United States, 1990-2017.

The research article investigates the incidence, types, and trends of horse-related injuries in the United States from 1990 to 2017, identifying key risk factors and potential areas for targeted injury prevention.

Study Approach

• The study adopts a retrospective design to analyze incidents of horse-related injuries in the United States.
• Incident data spanning from 1990 to 2017 was obtained from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a reliable source of injury data.
• The researchers focused on particular incidents identified using the NEISS code 1239, which pertains to horseback riding related activities, apparel, and equipment.
• Various statistical techniques were used to analyze the data, including the calculation of national injury estimates, relative risks, confidence intervals, and linear regression.

Key Findings

• An estimated 1,836,536 individuals sought emergency treatment due to horse-related injuries between 1990 and 2017.
• The annual rate of injury showed an initial decrease from 1990 to 1996, a subsequent increase from 1996 to 2000, followed by another decrease from 2000 to 2017.
• The rate of injuries increased significantly among older adults (over 60 years of age).
• The diagnoses of concussions and closed head injuries saw a drastic increase (337.2%) from 1990 to 2009.
• Of all the injuries, falling or getting thrown from the horse was the most common way people got injured while mounted (73.9%), while getting kicked was the leading cause of injury while unmounted (42.1%).
• It was noted that injuries sustained when mounted were more likely to result in hospitalization compared to those sustained while unmounted.

Implications and Recommendations

• The research evidences an observable, although fluctuating, decrease in horse-related injuries during the study period.
• Despite this improving trend, horse-related injuries remain common and hence, warrant continued attention.
• It was recommended that clinicians should be vigilant of the varying nature of emergency presentations resulting from horse-related injuries.
• Giventhe significant increase in horse-related injuries among older adults, injury prevention efforts should consider measures specifically tailored for this demographic.
• Also, due to the pronounced increase in concussions and closed head injuries, targeted interventions should be aimed at mitigating these specific types of horse-related injuries.