title: Recidivism in equestrian trauma.
abstract: A 3-year chart survey and questionnaire was conducted of equestrian-injured patients at a regional trauma center to determine patterns and consequences of injury and rate of recidivism. Ninety-two patients (95 encounters) were treated; most were young (mean age, 27 +/- 11 years) women (84%) riders sustaining falls (80%). Most injuries were orthopedic (47%); 19 per cent of patients required hospital admission. There was one death. Helmet use was documented in only 34 per cent. Eighty-one per cent of patients responded to a follow-up telephone survey; 36 per cent recounted additional accidents (mean, 1.4 +/- 0.5). Mean time lost from work was 3 weeks, with 19 per cent reporting chronic disability. Mean annual hospital charges for the cohort were $88,925.00. Recidivism is common in equestrian trauma. Hospital charges are significant. Lost time from work is considerable, with one in five patients reporting long-term disability. Given the cost and disability incurred with equestrian trauma, efforts at injury prevention appear warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Brandywine Hospital, Coatesville, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Frankel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haskell
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Digiacomo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rotondo
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006736:Horses; D017722:Hospital Charges; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D011998:Recreation; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies