[Serious accidents caused by horses. Warnings and prevention rules].
BACKGROUND
Children's equestrian activities in the domestic, play activities, sports and educational areas are relatively frequent, and are not exempt from risks. Nevertheless, there is a lack of data on horse-related injuries, their circumstances and the key points for their prevention.


METHODS
Retrospective and descriptive study of pediatric equestrian injuries admitted to Hospital between July 1997 and September 2008.


RESULTS
A total of 17 patients with ages between 4 and 17 years were analyzed. There were 14 accidental falls, 2 kicks and 1 bite, and 8 patients had lost consciousness after the accident. Only 1 patient used a protective helmet. There were 3 skull fractures, 4 intracranial haemorrhages, 1 pneumoencephalus and 2 diffuse axonal injuries. There were also 4 long bone fractures, 1 jaw fracture, 1 vertebral wedging and 1 partial ear avulsion were recorded. A total of 8 patients required intensive care, 2 underwent neurosurgery due to an intracranial haematoma and 4 surgical fracture reduction.


CONCLUSIONS
Horse handling by children and teenagers can be a high risk activity. In our cases brain trauma was the most common and severe injury. Due to the poor use of protection devices by our patients, we believe it is now necessary to take measures to increase safety in equestrian activities.
Muñiz Fontán
M
M
Servicio de Cuidados Intensivos y Urgencias Pediátricas, Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, España. mmfontan@hotmail.com
Moure González
J D
JD
Mirás Veiga
A
A
Rodríguez Núñez
A
A
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies