Paediatric horse-related trauma.
Abstract: This retrospective cohort study reported on the epidemiology of horse-related injuries for patients presenting to the only tertiary paediatric trauma hospital in Queensland. The secondary outcome was to examine the use of helmets and adult supervision. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) was examined in relation to helmet use. Morbidity and mortality were also recorded. Methods: Included were all patients presenting with any horse-related trauma to the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane from January 2008 to August 2014. Data were retrospectively collected on patient demographics, hospital length of stay (LOS), mechanism of injury (MOI), safety precautions taken, diagnoses and surgical procedures performed. Results: Included in the analysis were 187 incidents involving 171 patients. Most patients were aged 12-14 years (36.9%) and female (84.5%). The most common MOI were falls while riding horses (97.1%). Mild TBI (24.6%) and upper limb fractures (20.9%) were common injuries sustained. Patients who wore helmets had significantly reduced hospital LOS and severity of TBI when compared with those who did not wear helmets (P < 0.001 and P = 0.028, respectively). Morbidity was reported in 7.5% of patients. There were three deaths in Queensland. Conclusions: Helmet use is recommended for non-riders when handling horses, in addition to being a compulsory requirement whilst horse riding. Prompts in documentation may assist doctors to record the use of safety attire and adult supervision. This will allow future studies to further investigate these factors in relation to clinical outcomes.
© 2017 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicians).
Publication Date: 2017-03-07 PubMed ID: 28268253DOI: 10.1111/jpc.13471Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research paper investigates the impact of horse-related injuries in children and adolescents, emphasizing the role of helmets and adult supervision in preventing serious harm. It uses data from patients at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, identifying effects on recovery time and severity of brain injuries.
Scope of the Research
- The study focused on analyzing data related to horse-related trauma in children, collected from the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane over a 6-year period (January 2008-August 2014).
- The research had two primary outcomes – understanding the types and frequency of horse-related injuries and exploring the impact of helmets and adult supervision in preventing severe injuries.
Methodology
- The investigation was retrospective and involved the analysis of patient data, including demographics, length of hospital stay, mechanism of injuries, safety precautions taken, diagnosed health conditions, and surgical procedures undertaken.
Key Findings
- The research included 187 incidents involving 171 patients predominantly 12-14 years of age and of female gender (84.5%).
- Most injuries were the result of falling off a horse (97.1%), with mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI, 24.6%) and upper limb fractures (20.9%) being the most common outcomes.
- Helmet use was shown to significantly reduce both the length of hospital stay and the severity of TBIs. This was valid when comparing patients wearing helmets against those who did not.
- A small percentage of patients experienced morbidity (7.5%), and there were three recorded fatalities within the surveyed region.
Conclusions & Recommendations
- The research recommends the use of helmets both while riding and handling horses for children and adolescents.
- The study suggests improving medical documentation to record safety gear use and adult supervision. This could enhance future research on the impact of these elements on clinical health outcomes during horse-related incidents.
Cite This Article
APA
Theodore JE, Theodore SG, Stockton KA, Kimble RM.
(2017).
Paediatric horse-related trauma.
J Paediatr Child Health, 53(6), 543-550.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.13471 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, The University of Queensland, Child Health Research Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- Department of Paediatric and Neonatal Surgery, Urology, Burns and Trauma, Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- Surgical Service Group, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
- Department of Physiotherapy, Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
- Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, The University of Queensland, Child Health Research Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- Department of Paediatric and Neonatal Surgery, Urology, Burns and Trauma, Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Adolescent
- Animals
- Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
- Athletic Injuries / etiology
- Athletic Injuries / prevention & control
- Brain Concussion / epidemiology
- Brain Concussion / etiology
- Brain Concussion / physiopathology
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Cohort Studies
- Female
- Fractures, Bone / epidemiology
- Fractures, Bone / etiology
- Fractures, Bone / physiopathology
- Head Protective Devices / statistics & numerical data
- Horses
- Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
- Hospitals, Pediatric
- Humans
- Incidence
- Injury Severity Score
- Length of Stay
- Male
- Queensland / epidemiology
- Retrospective Studies
- Soft Tissue Injuries / epidemiology
- Soft Tissue Injuries / etiology
- Soft Tissue Injuries / physiopathology
- Survival Rate
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Franzén Lindgren E, Hammarqvist F, Ahl Hulme R. Horse-riding hazards: an observational cohort study mapping equestrian related injuries at a Scandinavian trauma centre. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2023 Mar 28;15(1):46.
- Savage G, Liesegang A, Campbell J, Lyon M, Fry D. Horse and Cattle-Related Trauma: A Retrospective Review of Injuries and Management in a Regional Queensland Hospital. Cureus 2023 Mar;15(3):e35746.
- Meredith L, Ekman R, Thomson R. Horse-related incidents and factors for predicting injuries to the head. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2018;4(1):e000398.
- O'Connor S, Hitchens PL, Fortington LV. Hospital-treated injuries from horse riding in Victoria, Australia: time to refocus on injury prevention?. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2018;4(1):e000321.
- Chocholka B, Bogensperger LM, Yegorova I, Groß V, Jaindl M, Parajuli B, Rapole S, Tiefenboeck TM, Payr S. Open Fractures on the Field: Two Decades of Pediatric Sports Injuries in a Level 1 Trauma Cohort. J Clin Med 2025 Sep 22;14(18).
- Boije Af Gennäs K, Jungmalm J. Youth horse-related injuries (2014-2024): a scoping review of epidemiological and disciplinary insights. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2025;11(3):e002589.
- Loder RT, Walker AL, Blakemore LC. Injury Patterns and Associated Demographic Characteristics in Children with a Fracture from Equines: A US National Based Study. Children (Basel) 2024 Nov 27;11(12).
- Crawford AE, Picken LK, Gabriel FD, Quade J, Gould S. CNS and Thorax Injury and Associated Risks Factors in Equestrian Sports. Sports Health 2025 Jul;17(4):697-702.
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