title: [Causes, injuries, therapy and possibilities of prevention of equine-related accidents. Results of a 2-center-study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Horse riding is associated with a high rate of injuries. The possibilities of prevention are limited because of deficient knowledge about the causes and mechanisms of equine-related accidents. In the present study 198 equine-related accidents were analyzed and based on these data risk groups were identified and guidelines to improve safety in horse riding were formulated.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this 2-center study the accidents of 169 riders over a period of 12 months were analyzed. Data on equine-related patterns of injury and the resulting treatment were collated from the clinical records. Additionally, a questionnaire was completed on the day of trauma by the patients, which covered age, gender, the cause and mechanism of injury and the use of safety equipment at the time of the accident.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 169 (85.5%) female and 29 (14.5%) male riders with a median age of 27.2 years (range 5-74 years). Of the riders 55 (27.8%) were aged 18 years or younger, 134 (67.7%) riders were treated as outpatients while 64 (32.3%) required hospitalization, 51 (25.8%) required surgical treatment, 66 (33.3%) used a helmet and 14 (7.1%) a body protector at the time of accident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Equestrians wear helmets increasingly more when riding but the willingness to wear body protectors is disappointing. Protective headgear has been proven to reduce the risk of injuries but based on these data a positive effect of body protectors could not be shown. In this study safety vest users suffered from injuries of the upper body more often than those who did not wear a body protector. Children and adolescents often overestimate their skills; therefore, teaching and supervision of inexperienced young riders along with the use of protective equipment can prevent major injuries.
authors: Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Deutschland, chessler@uke.uni-hamburg.de.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Hessler
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Eckert
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Meiners
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Jürgens
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Reicke
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Matthes
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ekkernkamp
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Püschel
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D019876:Sports Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult