[Clinical treatment of equestrian injuries in Groningen, 1990-1998: serious long-term effects].

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether equestrian injuries result in long-term residual symptoms and to establish the risk factors for these outcomes.

DESIGN

Retrospective, descriptive.

METHOD

A total of 88 patients older than 17 years of age who had been admitted to the Department of Surgery, University Hospital Groningen during the period 1990-1998 because of an equestrian injury were included in the study. After an average period of five years an inventory was made using the Sickness Impact Profile 68 (SIP68), if absenteeism from work or sport and disabilities or handicaps were experienced. Following this the risk factors for the occurrence of long-term effects were investigated.

RESULTS

The response was 65/88 (74%). Equestrian injuries often resulted in long-term effects: 35% of the patients had a SIP68 score > 0.11% were permanently unfit for work, 25% no longer participated in sport as an effect of the injury and 43% still experienced some form of disability or handicap; on average this was all 5 years after the injury. The type of injury (notably intracranial, fracture), body region (notably trunk), and the injury severity score (ISS) were significantly correlated with the occurrence of long-term effects.

CONCLUSION

Equestrian injuries which required clinical treatment were serious in nature and often resulted in disabilities and handicaps.