Serious injuries to Australian veterinarians working with cattle

Physical stress and musculoskeletal complaints of veterinarians - A narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Veterinarians have high physical workloads. The aim of this narrative review is to evaluate the literature on typical physical workloads, such as lifting/carrying and forced position (during surgery) and predictors of injuries. The health complaints of veterinarians were also examined.

METHODS

Diverse databases were used. Prevalence rates of total workloads (also including surgery), health complaints, musculoskeletal discomfort, and predictors of injury, musculoskeletal disorders, and precaution awareness were examined.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies were included. The most prevalent injury was animal attacks (9%-84%). Working in large and mixed practice types were predictors of injuries or musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., shoulder, lower back, head/neck) compared to other types of practice.

CONCLUSION

The study findings presented here clearly show a high need for intervention to minimize and prevent occupational risks. Ergonomic working conditions and occupational safety training can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Cattle-Related Trauma: A 5-Year Retrospective Review in a Adult Major Trauma Center

Introduction:

Bovine injuries are a common and significant cause of trauma, often requiring admission and operative treatment. We review all bovine-related injuries over 5 years, both emergency and general practitioner (GP) referrals at an adult major trauma center in England.

Methods:

Retrospective evaluation was undertaken using the keywords through radiology referrals and hospital admissions speciality databases. By searching patient notes, demographics were collected as well as the mechanism and the situation of injury; trauma scores were calculated using: injury severity score (ISS) and probability of survival (Ps19). The results were divided into emergency patients and GP referrals.

Results:

Sixty-seven patients were identified retrospectively over 5 years, 44 emergency patients (including 23 major traumas), and 23 GP referrals. Combined (emergency and GP) mean age 52 years old; 67% male; and mean ISS 11. Most common combined mechanism of injury, kicked (n = 23). In emergency patients, trampling injuries were the most common. Eighty-six percent of the trampled patients were major traumas and associated with increased ISS (mean 13). Indirect injuries mainly involved farm gates (92%). Seventy-three percent of bull-related injuries were major traumas and had increased ISS scores (mean 17). Orthopaedics was the most common admitting speciality followed by cardiothoracic and neurosurgery. In emergency patients, fractures were the most common primary injury (n = 20), upper limb followed by spine. In GP, soft-tissue injuries were the most common primary injury. Seventy percent of the emergency referrals required admission and 50% operations. Fracture fixation was the most common operative procedure. Only, one GP referral required an operation. There were significant delays in GP patients presenting. Two patients had a Ps19 score <90. There were two mortalities.

Conclusion:

Cattle-related injuries are a significant cause of severe morbidity and mortality. They are under-reported. Patterns of injury are similar to high-velocity road traffic collisions and bull-related injuries or trampling in particular, should alert the clinician to more significant trauma. Farm gates are a frequent cause of trauma associated with cattle. GP referrals with ongoing symptoms for more than 2 weeks seeking medical advice should alert the clinician to a more serious diagnosis.

Risk factors associated with work-preventing musculoskeletal discomfort in the upper extremities of bovine practitioners

OBJECTIVE

To identify risk factors associated with work-preventing musculoskeletal discomfort (MSKD) in the upper extremities (defined as neck, shoulders, upper back, arms, elbows, wrists, and hands) of bovine practitioners.

SAMPLE

116 members of the Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners.

PROCEDURES

Data from a previously described cross-sectional survey of western Canadian bovine practitioners underwent further analysis. The survey, developed to glean information about MSKD in bovine practitioners, was a modified standardized Nordic questionnaire that included questions regarding personal and work characteristics and incidence and location of MSKD during the preceding 12 months along with perceptions about most physically demanding tasks. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with work-preventing upper extremity MSKD.

RESULTS

18 of 116 (15.5%) respondents indicated they had experienced work-preventing upper extremity MSKD during the preceding 12 months. The final multivariable regression model indicated that practice type (mixed animal vs primarily [> 50%] bovine; OR, 3.20; 95% CI, 0.96 to 10.67), practitioner height (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.99), and number of veterinarians in the practice (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.66) were significantly associated with the odds of work-preventing upper extremity MSKD.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Results suggested that reproductive examination of cattle was not a significant risk factor for upper extremity MSKD in bovine practitioners. Further research into the effects of biomechanical, organizational, and psychosocial workplace factors on the development of MSKD in bovine practitioners is necessary to help inform prevention strategies to foster career longevity in this increasingly diverse practitioner group.

The examination of work-related musculoskeletal discomforts and risk factors in veterinarians

This study aimed to determine the frequency of work-related musculoskeletal discomforts (WMSDs) observed in veterinarians and the risk factors that may bring about these. Two hundred and seven veterinarians working in three provinces in south west Turkey were included in the study. The demographic and occupational information on the participants was recorded. The Modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to evaluate the musculoskeletal problems of different body parts, which cause difficulties at work and result in staying away from work. 49.8 % of veterinarians mostly have problems with lower back, 41.1 % with back, and 39.1 % with neck. The frequency of WMSDs tends to increase with the progress of professional experience. Three work-related activities during which veterinarians experience most difficulties while at work are obstetric procedures (28 %), vaccination (25.6 %), and driving (23.2 %). It is statistically significant that arm problems are observed more in veterinarians working with large animal types (p<0.05). The high level of job related stress and low job satisfaction statistically significantly affect the formation of WMSDs (p<0.05). The study showed that a large number of veterinarians experienced work-related musculoskeletal pain and discomforts that could be caused by some physical and psychosocial risk factors. Therefore, it is recommended for veterinarians to receive education on ergonomics and exercise from the beginning of their professional lives to prevent WMSDs.

Maternal veterinary occupation and adverse birth outcomes in Washington State, 1992-2014: a population-based retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Women in veterinary occupations are routinely exposed to potential reproductive hazards, yet research into their birth outcomes is limited. We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of the association between maternal veterinary occupation and adverse birth outcomes.

METHODS

Using Washington State birth certificate, fetal death certificate and hospital discharge data from 1992 to 2014, we compared birth outcomes of mothers in veterinary professions (n=2662) with those in mothers in dental professions (n=10 653) and other employed mothers (n=8082). Relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs were estimated using log binomial regression. Outcomes studied were premature birth (<37 weeks), small for gestational age (SGA), malformations and fetal death (death at ≥20 weeks gestation). Subgroup analyses evaluated risk of these outcomes among veterinarians and veterinary support staff separately.

RESULTS

While no statistically significant associations were found, we noted a trend for SGA births in all veterinary mothers compared with dental mothers (RR=1.16, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.36) and in veterinarians compared with other employed mothers (RR=1.37, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.96). Positive but non-significant association was found for malformations among children of veterinary support staff.

CONCLUSIONS

These results support the need for further study of the association between veterinary occupation and adverse birth outcomes.