Rodeo catastrophic injuries and registry: initial retrospective and prospective report.

Objective: To introduce the Rodeo Catastrophic Injury Registry (RCIR) and quantify the nature and incidence of catastrophic injury and fatality in rodeo participants across North America.

Design: Retrospective and prospective collection of catastrophic and fatal injury data in rodeo using an online registry (RCIR).

Setting: Canada and the United States.

Participants: North American rodeo competitors.

Assessment Of Risk Factors: Age, gender, level of competition, rodeo event, mechanism of injury, and use of protective equipment.

Main Outcome Measures: Frequency, incidence, and nature of catastrophic injuries and fatalities among rodeo participants.

Results: The incidence rate of catastrophic injury from 1989 to 2009 was 9.45 per 100 000 (49/518 286). The incidence rate of catastrophic injury during the 2007-2009 study period was 19.81 per 100 000 (19/95 892). The incidence rate of fatality from 1989 to 2009 was 4.05 per 100 000 (21/518 286). The incidence rate of fatality for the 2007-2009 study period was 7.29 per 100 000 (7/95 892).

Conclusions: Thoracic compression mechanisms of injury are most pervasive and likely to be fatal in rodeo and bull riding. It is unknown whether rodeo protective vests have a protective effect in reducing catastrophic and fatal injuries. On the contrary, helmet use in bull riding and rodeo events seems to have a protective effect in reducing both catastrophic injury and fatality.