PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - J Srinivasan
AU  - S Alurkar
TI  - G452 Horse related injuries in children-Our experience in PICU
AID  - 10.1136/archdischild-2014-306237.434
DP  - 2014 Apr 01
TA  - Archives of Disease in Childhood
PG  - A188--A188
VI  - 99
IP  - Suppl 1
4099  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/99/Suppl_1/A188.2.short
4100  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/99/Suppl_1/A188.2.full
SO  - Arch Dis Child2014 Apr 01; 99
AB  - Introduction Horse riding and horse handling are risk prone activities and can cause fatal injuries. Horse related injuries are not uncommon in children and could account for significant morbidity. Objectives To review the incidence and mechanism of horse related injuries in children and characterise the severity of injuries in paediatric patients needing intensive care. Methods Data was analysed from the Paediatric Injury Database of the Emergency Department and the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at a major trauma centre covering a period from January 2012-November2013. Results A total of 275 children attended the emergency department with injuries related to horse riding and horse handling. Mechanism of injuries 81% were due to a fall or being thrown from the horse, 9.4% were due to being trodden,and 8% were due to being kicked by the horse. A small proportion of injuries (1.4%) were related to being bitten by horse. Severity of injuries Majority of injuries involved head and neck and extremities. 5 patients sustained serious injuries needing intensive care management out of which 1 died. Injury characteristics in children who needed intensive care Three patients had serious head injury and required neuroprotection. Their neurosurgical findings were as follows: (Case1: haemorrhagic contusion and intraventricular bleed, Case2: acute subdural haemorrhage and diffuse axonal injury, Case 3: multiple parenchymal haemorrhages and tight brain with midline shift). Two patients had severe abdominal injuries (Case 1: renal laceration in upper pole of left kidney, Case 2: Fractured spleen with subphrenic hematoma and fractured left kidney with trauma to left renal artery.) Outcome Two patients with head injury survived but required prolonged neurorehabilitation. One patient with severe head injury was diagnosed as brainstem dead and care was withdrawn. Both children with abdominal injuries survived and made good progress. Conclusions Improved awareness among paediatric horse riders and handlers is required. Although majority of horse related injuries are non fatal, serious incidents can occur and the importance of vigilance, adequate supervision and safe protective measures cannot be over emphasised.