Clinical articlePatterns of maxillofacial injuries related to interaction with horses
Section snippets
Patients and methods
A retrospective study was designed to investigate all horse-related maxillofacial injuries that presented to Legacy Emanuel Hospital over the past 5 consecutive years. Emanuel is 1 of 2 level 1 trauma centers in Oregon. Charts were reviewed based on the E-codes specifying horse-related injury, animal-related injury, and animal bite. Charts coded for facial injuries were also reviewed to ensure that no injuries were missed. Data from the Oregon Trauma Registry and Oregon Department of Vital
Results
The 62 patients who were identified consisted of 15 males (24%) and 47 females (76%), ranging in age from 1 to 83 years, with an average age of 32 years. Seventeen (27%) patients were age 12 or younger. The spring months accounted for 34% of the injuries; summer and winter were equal in representation with 24%. All but 1 patient (2%) reported knowing the animal involved. Fifty (81%) were not wearing helmets.
Overall, the most frequent injury was abrasion/contusion (24 [39%]). Second were
Discussion
Sixty-two patients over 5 years were treated for horse-related facial injuries at our institution. This number is equal to or slightly higher than other studies. Among the medical community, equestrian activities are well known to be a dangerous form of recreation. A horse at full gallop can reach speeds up to 65 km/h (40 mph) and can weigh nearly 500 kg (1,100 lb). At the saddle, a horse averages 6 ft (2 m), and the rider’s head can approach 10 ft (3 m) above the ground.8 The risk of injury or
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