The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.

SMJ // Article

Case Report

The Urban Cowboy Syndrome Revisited: Case Report

Authors: Robert S. Green, BSC, MD, FRCPC, Ron Maier, MD

Abstract

Inspired by the 1980 movie Urban Cowboy, many drinking establishments offered mechanical bull riding to their patrons. As the use of mechanical bulls became more popular, associated injuries became increasingly reported in the literature as the “urban cowboy syndrome.” We report a case of severe straddle injury resulting in symphysis diastasis, urethral injury, and significant retroperitoneal hematoma resulting in cardiovascular instability secondary to mechanical bull riding. This unique case is the most severe mechanical bull injury reported in the literature and the only report of the urban cowboy syndrome since the early 1980s.

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