Ten Years of Equine-related Injuries: Severity and Implications for Emergency Physicians.

This study examines the severity and implications of injuries caused by horses during equine-related activities over a period of ten years. The research results highlight that most of these injuries occur due to falls from horses, often in recreational activities, with the chest and head being the most commonly injured areas. The study also underscores the importance of using safety equipment and advocates for education and injury prevention interventions.

Research Methodology

• The study was conducted by retrospectively examining the records of patients who have sustained injuries due to horse-related activities between the years 2002 and 2011. These records were identified and examined with the aid of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes E828 and E906.
• The parameters investigated in these records include the mechanism of injury, severity, frequency, the body regions affected, surgical requirements, safety equipment usage, and rehabilitation needs.

Key Findings

• Out of the ninety patients involved in the study, 70% were female, with an average age of 37.3 years. The average length of hospital stay was 3.7 days and the average Injury Severity Score was 12.9.
• Falls from horses were identified as the leading cause of injury, accounting for 46.7% of the cases. Other causes were not specified in the excerpt.
• The chest (23%) was the most common area of the body to be injured, followed by the brain/head (21.5%).
• Around 33% of the patients required surgical procedures, with a total of 57 procedures being performed across thirty patients.
• Around 20% of the patients needed occupational therapy and 33.3% required physical therapy during their hospitalization.
• Only 3% of the patients needed rehabilitation following their hospital stay, with 90% of them being discharged directly to their homes.
• Reflecting a worrying trend, safety equipment was not used in 91.9% of the cases.
• Six patients did not survive, all succumbing to extensive head injuries. One patient sustained a spinal cord injury.

Conclusions and Recommendations

• Most horse-related injuries occurred during recreational activities and were caused by falls from horses.
• Compared to previous studies, the patients in this study suffered more severe injuries to the trunk and head, and required more surgical interventions for facial, pelvic, and brain injuries.
• Not using safety equipment was identified as a significant contributor to the risk of severe injury.
• The researchers recommend education initiatives and injury prevention measures to reduce the risk of horse-related injuries.
• Given the complex surgical intervention required in many cases, it is suggested that such patients be transferred to Level I trauma centers.