Occupational vs. non-occupational equestrians: Differences in demographics and injury patterns.

The research study investigates the differences in injury patterns and demographics between professional and amateur horse riders in the U.S, using the 2017 National Trauma Databank data. The goal is to better understand potential factors that may increase the risk of severe injuries and deaths in these populations.

Dataset and Methodology

• The study uses the 2017 American College of Surgeons National Trauma Databank (ACS NTDB) analytics to investigate horse-related injuries in the U.S.
• Injury data included in the research are demographics, injury patterns, protective device usage, and hospital procedures. The source of injury is classified into occupational vs. non-occupational based on the incident location (farm, sports area, recreation area, or residential space).
• The researchers applied the ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and Pearson’s Chi-squared tests to compare these injuries from different sources.

Findings

• Out of 3,911 incidents, falling off the horse was the most common cause of injury, but occupational and non-occupational farm injuries showed a higher incidence of being struck by a horse.
• One-third of reported injuries required surgery, with upper extremity injuries, e.g., arm injuries, being the most common.
• Occupational injuries more often affected upper extremities of working-age, minority males with commercial insurance. In contrast, non-occupational injuries most often affected the heads of females at various ages.
• Helmet use was more common among those suffering occupational and non-occupational sports injuries, and non-occupational recreation injuries. The use of helmets was linked with a lower incidence of severe head injuries among these groups.
• There was no significant difference in patient complication rates and hospital discharge dispositions (patient condition upon discharge) across groups.

Conclusion

• The study, being the largest of its kind to date, provides valuable data regarding equine-related injuries and their demographic prevalence, prepping the stage for injury prevention initiatives.
• Helmet usage prominently reduces the risk of severe head injuries. However, the effectiveness of other protective clothing needs further research validation.