Patterns of injury following equine trauma: a non-trauma centre experience.

The research discusses injury patterns caused by horse riding related incidents, predominantly in a non-major trauma hospital in Scotland. Over a five year period, the study analysed and characterised the types of injuries, treatment methods, and patient outcomes, with a focus on differentiating injuries caused by falling from a horse and those from being crushed or kicked by a horse.

Research Methodology

• The researchers conducted a five-year retrospective review of admissions related to horse riding injuries from 2014 to 2019 in a general district hospital in Scotland.
• The study observed and categorised the type of injuries, their causes, along with patient management and the outcomes of these situations.
• All the gathered data was then scrutinised statistically to identify any correlations and gain insights.

Results of the Research

• From a total of 162 identified patients, a considerable majority (74.7 per cent) were females.
• Most injuries occurred because of falls from horses, accounting for 86.4 per cent of cases. The most frequently observed type of injury was head injury, appearing in 17.9 per cent of patients.
• Almost a third of the patients (27.2 per cent) had multiple injuries.
• Comparatively, more serious injuries such as abdominal visceral injuries and admissions to the Intensive Treatment Unit were observed in those who experienced being crushed or kicked by a horse in comparison to those who just fell from a horse.
• Some severe cases (4.9 per cent of total) required a transfer to a major trauma centre. Over the 30-day observation period, the mortality rate was relatively low at 0.6 per cent.

Conclusions of the Study

• The study concluded that while the severity and type of injuries sustained from equine trauma can vary extensively, some can be life-threatening.
• The research suggests a need for an increase in public awareness and stronger safety regulations to prevent horse riding injuries.
• Given the high number of bone-related injuries from horse-riding accidents, the authors proposed that further research should be directed towards evaluating the functional outcomes of these specific injuries.