Highlights
- •The estimated national incidence of lawnmower-related injuries (LMI) is 9,351per year (10.6 LMI per 100,000 children per year; based on the 2010 US Census data). This incidence has remained unchanged for over 2 decades.
- •The most commonly injured body regions were the hand and/or finger (30.1%), followed by lower extremity (16.8%), and face and/or eye (14.0%).
- •The leading types of LMIs were laceration (32.9%), followed by soft tissue injury (22.9%), and burn (13.5%).
- •Amputations (RR: 11.5; 95% CI: 11.00 to 12.10; P < .0001) and fractures (RR: 2.82; 95% CI: 2.64 to 3.00; P < .0001) had the greatest risk of requiring hospitalization.
Abstract
Background
Lawnmower-related injuries (LMI) in children are commonly disfiguring and usually
preventable. Owing to concerns about the large number and severity of pediatric LMI,
we sought to describe the current epidemiology of these injuries in the United States.
Methods
Data were obtained from the 2004 to 2013 National Electronic Surveillance system of
the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission for children ≤20 years old. Demographic,
injury pattern, and treatment data were analyzed.
Results
There were an estimated 93,508 LMI, with an incidence of 9,351 LMI per year. The hand
and/or fingers (30.1%), lower extremity (16.8%), and face and/or eye (14.0%) were
the body parts most commonly injured. Amputations (relative risk [RR]: 11.5; 95% confidence
interval [CI]: 11.00 to 12.10; P < .0001) and fractures (RR: 2.82; 95% CI: 2.64 to 3.00; P < .0001) were more likely to require hospitalization.
Conclusions
The estimated annual incidence of LMI in children has remained unchanged over the
past decade, and has remained constant when compared with a previous 15-year review
using Consumer Product Safety Commission data for the same age group. Reinforcement
of prevention strategies and manufacturer redesign of lawnmowers are long overdue.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 06, 2016
Received in revised form:
November 13,
2015
Received:
June 2,
2015
Footnotes
There were no relevant financial relationships or any sources of support in the form of grants, equipment, or drugs.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Disclosures: The authors report no proprietary or commercial interest in any product mentioned or concept discussed in this article.
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
