Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Rodeo related large animal injury: is protective head-gear warranted?
Abstract: To compare rodeo associated large animal injuries to large animal associated trauma from other aetiologies in order to determine whether mandatory protective head-gear during rodeo is warranted. Retrospective analysis related to injury involving large animal admissions between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 1995. The setting is at the University of New Mexico Health Science Center, a level 1 trauma centre. All patients admitted with Injury Severity Scores of 1 or higher following large animal associated injuries. There were 140 admissions for which mechanism of injury was known. Thirty-nine occurred during rodeo competition and 101 occurred during other activities. Bovine associated activities were the aetiology in 34 (87%) of rodeo related injuries while equine related activities were the aetiology in 97 (96%) of non-rodeo related injuries (P<0.001). Rodeo related injuries involved the head and neck in five patients (13%) compared to 42 patients (42%) in non-rodeo activities (P=0.001). Mean Regional Injury Severity Score head and neck was 0.4 for injured rodeo riders and 1.5 for injured non-rodeo riders (P<0.001). Mean admission Glascow Coma Scale was 14.9 for rodeo-injured patients and 13.3 for non-rodeo-injured patients (P<0.001). Total ISS was significantly lower for rodeo injured patients (9.1 vs. 11.7, P=0.03). No rodeo injured patient died as a result of head injury. Mechanism of injury, ISS head, GCS, total ISS, and outcome differ between rodeo and non-rodeo injuries. While routine helmet use during non-rodeo events appears justified, mandatory use of helmets in rodeo events is unwarranted. Orthotics to protect the chest and abdomen are more likely to reduce morbidity and mortality for rodeo participants.
Publication Date: 2001-01-13 PubMed ID: 11154743DOI: 10.1016/s0020-1383(00)00108-xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article explores the range and severity of injuries related to large animals involved in rodeos and other activities, with a specific emphasis on determining if protective headgear should be obligatory during rodeo events.
Methodology
The research, conducted at a level 1 trauma center in the University of New Mexico Health Science Center, performed a retrospective analysis of injuries linked with large animals that led to hospital admissions between January 1990 and December 1995. The study focused on patients with Injury Severity Scores (ISS) of 1 or higher. In total, 140 admissions where the mechanism of injury was known were taken into consideration.
- 39 injuries occurred during rodeo competitions.
- 101 injuries occurred during other activities.
Findings
The injuries were predominantly caused by bovine – or cattle-related activities in rodeos (87%) and equine- or horse-related activities in non-rodeo related incidents (96%). Significant differences were observed between the nature and severity of the injuries sustained during rodeo and non-rodeo events.
- In rodeo-related injuries, the head and neck were involved in only 13% of cases, as compared to 42% in non-rodeo activities.
- The mean Regional Injury Severity Score for head and neck injuries was 0.4 for rodeo victims and 1.5 for non-rodeo victims.
- The mean admission Glascow Coma Scale (GCS) was higher for injured rodeo patients (14.9) compared to non-rodeo injured patients (13.3), indicating less severe injury.
- The total ISS was lower for rodeo injuries than non-rodeo ones (9.1 vs. 11.7).
- No deaths were recorded as a result of head injury among rodeo participants.
Conclusion
The differences identified in the mechanism of injury, ISS of the head, GCS, total ISS and overall outcome between rodeo and non-rodeo injuries underscore that they are fundamentally different.
The research concludes that while protective helmets seem justifiable for non-rodeo activities involving large animals, their mandatory use in rodeo events seems unwarranted. The data suggests that protective gear for the chest and abdomen might be more valuable in mitigating the risk of death and injury for participants in rodeo events.
Cite This Article
APA
Ketai LH, Temes RT, Deis JL, Allen NL, Wernly JA.
(2001).
Rodeo related large animal injury: is protective head-gear warranted?
Injury, 31(10), 757-759.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0020-1383(00)00108-x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Radiology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Adult
- Animals
- Athletic Injuries / etiology
- Athletic Injuries / prevention & control
- Cattle
- Craniocerebral Trauma / etiology
- Craniocerebral Trauma / prevention & control
- Female
- Head Protective Devices
- Horses
- Humans
- Injury Severity Score
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Livingston R, Koval L, Livingston L, Scholes N. Six-year retrospective study of bull-riding injuries in central Queensland. Australas Med J 2012;5(7):362-6.
- Meyers MC, Laurent CM Jr. The rodeo athlete: injuries - Part II. Sports Med 2010 Oct 1;40(10):817-39.
- Ball JE, Ball CG, Mulloy RH, Datta I, Kirkpatrick AW. Ten years of major equestrian injury: are we addressing functional outcomes?. J Trauma Manag Outcomes 2009 Feb 19;3:2.
- Box MW, Wilson F, Pasque CB, Smith CD. Characteristics of Rodeo Injuries and Suggestions for Injury Prevention: A Systematic Review. Orthop J Sports Med 2024 Apr;12(4):23259671241227217.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
