The Epidemiology, Injury Patterns and Outcomes of Horse-Related Injuries in Israeli Children.
Abstract: Horse riding has become increasingly popular in recent years and is a common activity among children. As a result, pediatric horse-related injuries are frequently encountered in emergency departments. Objective: To examine the characteristics of horse-related injuries in the pediatric population. Methods: We collected and analyzed the data on all pediatric horse-related injuries presented to a tertiary hospital, level one trauma center, during the years 2006-2016. Results: A total of 53 children with horse-related injuries were documented. Forty-two patients were male (79%) and their mean age was 11.13 ± 4.72 years. The most common mechanism of injury was falling off a horse (31 patients, 58%) and the most common type of injury was skeletal (32 patients, 60%). Head injuries occurred in 16 patients (30%) and facial injuries in 12 (23%). The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 10.5 ± 6.32, and 15 patients (28%) had severe trauma (ISS > 15). Twenty-nine patients (55%) required trauma team intervention, 12 (23%) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 24 (45%) required surgery. The mean length of hospitalization was 4.3 ± 3.14 days. Conclusions: Our study suggests that horse-related trauma may involve serious injuries and it exhibits typical injury patterns. Young boys are at highest risk. The potential severity of these injuries merits a thorough evaluation. We suggest that these injuries be triaged appropriately, preferably to a medical facility with proper trauma capabilities.
Publication Date: 2019-04-30 PubMed ID: 31032572
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research paper examines the patterns and outcomes of injuries related to horse riding among children in Israel, gathered from ten years of data at a tertiary hospital. It emphasizes the potential severity of these injuries, suggesting boys experienced the highest risk.
Research Background
- The study emerges from the increasing popularity of horse riding among children. Such activity has led to a rising number of horse-related injuries handed over to emergency departments.
Objectives and Methodology
- The objective of the study was to examine the characteristics of pediatric horse-related injuries.
- The researchers initiated data collection and subsequent analysis on all pediatric horse-related injuries reported to a level one trauma center in a tertiary hospital in Israel for ten years from 2006 – 2016.
Data and Results
- In total, 53 children suffered horse-related injuries.
- Out of these children, 42 were male, making up 79% of the total.
- The mean age of the patients was approximately 11 years.
- The most common injury mechanism was falling off a horse (involving 31 patients, or 58%).
- Skeletal injuries were the most common type, involving 32 patients (60% of the total).
- Other types of injuries included head injuries (affecting 16 patients or 30%) and facial injuries (occurring in 12 patients or around 23%).
- Using the Injury Severity Score (ISS), the mean ISS was 10.5 with 15 patients (28%) having serious trauma (ISS ranking greater than 15).
- Almost over half of the patients (29 or 55%) required trauma team intervention.
- Around 23% (12 patients) needed admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).
- Around 45% (24 patients) required surgery and the mean hospital stay was approximately 4.3 days.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- The researchers concluded that horse-related injuries could be quite serious and have consistent injury patterns, suggesting that young boys are most at risk.
- They recommended thorough evaluation of such injuries and the necessary triage, preferably to a medical facility equipped with proper trauma capabilities, due to their potential severity.
Cite This Article
APA
Gross I, Hadar A, Bala M, Hashavya S.
(2019).
The Epidemiology, Injury Patterns and Outcomes of Horse-Related Injuries in Israeli Children.
Isr Med Assoc J, 21(4), 279-282.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel.
- Trauma Unit, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
- Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
MeSH Terms
- Abdominal Injuries / epidemiology
- Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Child
- Craniocerebral Trauma / epidemiology
- Female
- Fractures, Bone / epidemiology
- Horses
- Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
- Humans
- Injury Severity Score
- Israel
- Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
- Male
- Sex Factors
- Spinal Injuries / epidemiology
- Wounds, Nonpenetrating / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- 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.
- Hoffmann MF, Bernstorff M, Kreitz N, Roetman B, Schildhauer TA, Wenning KE. Horse-related injury patterns: a single center report.. J Orthop Surg Res 2023 Feb 2;18(1):83.
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