Descriptive epidemiology of a cluster of hand injuries from snowblowers.
The objective of the study is to describe the nature and type of snowblower-related hand injuries, including long term follow up. A retrospective study was performed of a cluster of patients injured by snowblower use, presenting to an urban Emergency Department (ED) following a major snowstorm. For each patient, demographic data and subsequent records from outpatient management were reviewed. Interviews were conducted 3 years later to assess long-term outcomes. Eleven patients, all male, presented to the ED with snowblower injuries, all to the hand. Injuries included soft tissue lacerations and partial to complete amputations. Ten patients were treated and released and one was admitted. In a 3 year follow-up, few patients reported major sequela. Almost half reported persistent pain, or minor disability. In conclusion, in our series, snowblower injuries resulted exclusively in trauma to the hand. Most injuries can be managed on an outpatient basis. Many patients experience persistent symptoms. All patients had entirely preventable injuries.
Department of Emergency Medicine, and The Injury Prevention Center, Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Lawrence
L
Proano
Robert
R
Partridge
D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D012914:Snow