BACKGROUND: Equestrian activities have always been popular in the United States. As safety guidelines have become more stringent, horse-related injuries have diminished by 40 percent over the past 20 years. Although perhaps less critical than in the past, injuries to equestrians most frequently involve the face, upper extremity, and lower extremity and are commonly evaluated by the plastic surgeon. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of these equestrian-related injuries. METHODS: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database is a stratified probability sample of hospitals in the United States. The database was queried for mechanisms of equestrian-related injuries, and probability estimates were obtained based on 1200 cases reported for the year 2005 in the United States. RESULTS: Based on the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System query, the most commonly injured areas are the upper extremities, lower extremities, and face. Common mechanisms of injury include fall from a horse (60 percent), stepped on by a horse (11 percent), kicks (11 percent), and bites (3 percent). The authors present four illustrative case reports seen in their institution. CONCLUSIONS: Equestrian injuries are commonly seen by plastic surgeons. Proper evaluation of the characteristics and mechanisms of injury can lead to optimal care and outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Equestrian activities have always been popular in the United States. As safety guidelines have become more stringent, horse-related injuries have diminished by 40 percent over the past 20 years. Although perhaps less critical than in the past, injuries to equestrians most frequently involve the face, upper extremity, and lower extremity and are commonly evaluated by the plastic surgeon. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of these equestrian-related injuries. METHODS: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database is a stratified probability sample of hospitals in the United States. The database was queried for mechanisms of equestrian-related injuries, and probability estimates were obtained based on 1200 cases reported for the year 2005 in the United States. RESULTS: Based on the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System query, the most commonly injured areas are the upper extremities, lower extremities, and face. Common mechanisms of injury include fall from a horse (60 percent), stepped on by a horse (11 percent), kicks (11 percent), and bites (3 percent). The authors present four illustrative case reports seen in their institution. CONCLUSIONS: Equestrian injuries are commonly seen by plastic surgeons. Proper evaluation of the characteristics and mechanisms of injury can lead to optimal care and outcomes.