Agricultural Farm-Related Head Injuries in Rural India: A Case Series

Abstract

Farm-related head injuries are a significant cause of death and disability in rural households. Traumatic brain injury can result in long-term disability. The use of modern farming equipment has increased in the Indian agricultural sector over the last few decades. Machines such as threshers and winnowing devices can cause open skull fractures or scalp avulsions, while the fall of heavy tools may lead to severe head trauma. Farm animals such as bullocks and horses can also inflict traumatic brain injuries with their pointed horns, through trampling, kicking, or rarely biting. We present a case series of four patients who sustained head injuries due to farm-related accidents. All patients sustained compound cranial fractures with underlying brain parenchymal injuries, and three of them achieved complete recovery following timely medical intervention.