Major lower extremity lawn mower injuries in children.
Between 1983 and 1993, 16 children with 18 lower extremity power lawn mower-related injuries were treated at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Eleven of 16 patients (69%) were bystanders or nonoperators. The average age at injury was 4 years 9 months. Length of follow-up averaged 3 years 10 months. There was an average of 4.9 procedures per patient. Fourteen of the 18 limbs injured required eventual amputation (78%). We propose a new classification of lawn mower injuries in children. The most common injury (16 of 18 limbs) was a shredding type injury and was either intercalary or distal. The second was a paucilaceration type (two of 18 limbs). Of the four salvaged limbs, there were two shredding type injuries, and on most recent follow-up are considered to have poor results. The two patients with the paucilaceration type injuries and limb salvage are considered to have excellent results. All patients with a shredding type injury ultimately required amputation or had poor results with the salvaged limb. Limb salvage surgery was associated with prolonged hospitalizations, a higher incidence of surgical problems, a longer treatment course, and more complications than early ablative procedures.
Dormans
J P
JP
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Azzoni
M
M
Davidson
R S
RS
Drummond
D S
DS
D000056:Accident Prevention; D000059:Accidents; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006794:Household Articles; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome