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LAWN MOWER INJURIES IN CHILDREN: A 30‐YEAR EXPERIENCE
Author(s) -
Nguyen Anh,
Raymond Simon,
Morgan Vanessa,
Peters Julian,
Macgill Kirstie,
Johnstone Bruce
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2008.04644.x
Subject(s) - medicine , lawn , injury prevention , emergency medicine , poison control , retrospective cohort study , occupational safety and health , pediatrics , medical record , suicide prevention , confidence interval , medical emergency , surgery , botany , pathology , biology
Background: Lawn mowers cause severe injuries that are particularly devastating to children. This study analyses the patterns and trends in lawn mower injuries involving children referred to Victoria’s principal children’s hospital. Methods: A retrospective review of the patient medical records at the Royal Children’s Hospital (Melbourne) Victoria, Australia was carried out. The series included all patients admitted for lawn mower injury during the 30‐year period spanning 1975–2004. Results: Lawn mower injuries treated at Royal Children’s Hospital were severe and included partially amputated limbs. Overall, admissions for lawn mower injury generally decreased over time from n = 26 in the 1975–1979 interval to n = 14 in the 2000–2004 interval. However, the frequency of admission for injuries caused by ride‐on mowers contradicted the overall trend and generally increased over time from n = 5 in the 1975–1979 interval to n = 11 in the 2000–2004 interval. This is of particular concern. Ride‐on lawn mowers caused significantly more severe injuries requiring longer periods of admission and more operations during admission in comparison to standard mowers. Rural location at the time of injury was a risk factor associated with requiring longer periods of admission and more operations during admission. Children injured while operating mowers were generally older than children injured as bystanders. Conclusion: Lawn mower injuries are a significant cause of morbidity. These injuries are particularly devastating to children. The tragedy is keenly felt in the realization that these devastating injuries to children could all be prevented. Strategic preventative measures should be developed through partnership between the medical profession, the media, industry specialists and the wider community.