The Epidemiology, Injury Patterns and Outcomes of Horse-Related Injuries in Israeli Children.

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.