Dr. Wegner was interviewed about horse rider safety by Pam White, Health Reporter for Arizona Illustrated on KUAT-TV, Ch. 6, Wednesday, Feb. 23rd at 6:30 pm.

View the interview.
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Fractures and dislocations account for a third of the over 80,000 equestrian injuries that are treated in emergency rooms each year. There are 206 bones in the human body. It is important to be aware of potential hazards to every part and to know what steps to take to avoid a break or avoid making one worse after the accident, and to be familiar with first aid procedures both near the barn and on the trail.

Horseback riders are most likely to experience a fracture to the wrist, arm, and shoulder. For that reason, Dr. Wegner recommends “safe seat” training, which involves learning prevention techniques, including how to fall with wrists up rather than turned out, and flexed. He also advises riders to always wear protective headgear (helmets) approved by the American Society for Testing Materials when riding or working around horses.

On the trail carry an emergency kit with you and a copy of a good emergency care manual. Have another emergency kit in the barn. Know where it is and how to use it.

A fracture is considered an urgent health concern. Apply ice and stabilize the bone, but do not try to fix it yourself. If there is bleeding or the bone is protruding through the skin, go to the emergency room. If you think but are not sure you have broken a bone, you should call your doctor or go to urgent care if it is after hours, and then follow up with an orthopaedic surgeon. It is particularly important for children to be seen by an orthopaedic surgeon right away to ensure proper healing.

- Dr. Wegner graduated from Brown University and the Yale School of Medicine, Department of Surgery and Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation. He studied further at Indiana Hand Center, Indiana University, completing a fellowship in hand and upper extremity surgery. His office is at 2424 N. Wyatt Drive, Suite 200, Tucson. Phone (520) 784-6200.