Injury and death associated with hospital bed side-rails: reports to the US Food and Drug Administration from 1985 to 1995.
OBJECTIVE
Hospital bed side-rails, while intended for patient protection, can contribute to injury and death. Reports to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of hospital bed side-rail entrapment have increased. In this paper entrapment cases are reviewed and the population potentially at risk identified.


METHODS
FDA's database was searched for events involving hospital beds from January 1985 to August 1995 and entrapment cases were identified.


RESULTS
Of 111 entrapments, 65% were associated with death and 23% with injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Advanced age, female sex, low body weight, and cognitive impairment may be associated with increased risk. Preventive measures are detailed.
Todd
J F
JF
Center for Radiological Devices and Health, US Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Md. 20850, USA.
Ruhl
C E
CE
Gross
T P
TP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D001513:Beds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality