Farm accidents in children: eleven years of experience.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to review accidental injuries to children on farms.


METHODS
Between January 1988 and December 1999, childhood farm injuries referred to a trauma center were reviewed.


RESULTS
Forty-five children under 19 years of age were identified. Mean age was 7.3 years. Male to female ratio was 2:1. A total of 31 of 45 (69%) survived. A total of 14 of 45 (31%) died. The mechanism of injury was tractor in 15 (33%), animals in 13 (29%), other machinery in 9 (20%), falls in 4 (9%), burns in 2 (4%), equipment in 1 (2%), and mechanism not documented in 1 (2%). Twelve deaths involved tractors or machinery (86%), and 2 involved animals (14%). Thirty of forty-five (67%) accidents occurred between June and October. A total of 28 of 45 (62%) occurred between 1 PM and 6 PM. Nine fatalities (64%) were supervised. Predominant injuries were orthopedic in 25 of 45 (56%), neurologic in 19 of 45 (42%), and thoracoabdominal in 10 of 45 (22%). Eighteen (40%) underwent orthopedic surgery. Six patients (13%) had long-term disability. Seven survivors and 7 fatally injured patients (31%) had multiple injuries. Seven of 14 fatalities (50%) had solitary head injuries. The average transport time from scene to rural hospital was 1.5 hours, from rural hospital to trauma center, 2.3 hours. Twelve of fourteen fatalities (86%) were declared dead at the scene, and 2 died en route.


CONCLUSIONS
Efforts must be focused to prevent tractor and animal injuries.
Meiers
S
S
Departments of General Surgery and Paediatric General Surgery, University of Saskatchewan-Regina General Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Baerg
J
J
D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000383:Agriculture; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012525:Saskatchewan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*