A Descriptive Study Of The Burden Of Animal-Related Trauma At Cork University Hospital

Ir Med J. 2018 Jan 10;111(1):673.

Abstract

Farming is the most dangerous occupation in Ireland1 and the incidence of farm accidents is rising. This study examines major farm animal-related trauma treated at Cork University Hospital over a 5 year period. There were 54 patients admitted to Cork University Hospital (C.U.H.) with major farm animal-related trauma. The median age was 56 years, 85% were male and the median hospital length of stay was four days. Older patients had longer lengths of stay; 5.5 vs 4 days (p=0.026). Tibia/fibula fractures were the most common injuries (N=13, 24%); head injury occurred in six patients (11%). There were 32 (59%) patients who required surgery, the majority for orthopaedic injuries. There were nine patients (16.7%) admitted to the intensive care unit; their median ICU stay was four days. Injury prevention and treatment strategies require that the age profile, mechanism of injury and injury patterns of farmers sustaining animal-related trauma is recognised.

MeSH terms

  • Accidents
  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / epidemiology
  • Farmers / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Fibula / injuries
  • Fractures, Bone / epidemiology
  • Hospitals, University / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units / statistics & numerical data
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Occupational Injuries / etiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tibial Fractures / epidemiology
  • Trauma Centers