Home treadmill friction injuries: a five-year review.
Treadmills are popular home fitness machines in American homes. Young children are at risk for friction injuries if they contact moving treadmills. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of treatment of treadmill friction injuries in children. A review of 1,211 pediatric patients younger than 6 years treated at the Intermountain Burn Center between July 1997 and June 2002 was conducted. Forty-eight of these cases (4%) were treadmill friction injuries. The mean TBSA of these burns was 0.5%. The volar surface of the hand was the most common site of injury. Twenty-two (46%) of the 48 identified patients had full-thickness injuries that were treated surgically. Medical costs associated with treadmill friction injuries averaged US 2,385 dollars. The number of treadmill friction accidents resulting in friction injuries to children less than 6 years of age deserves serious attention and increased public awareness.
Collier
Margaret L
ML
Intermountain Burn Trauma Center, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Ward
R Scott
RS
Saffle
Jeffrey R
JR
Edelman
Linda S
LS
Morris
Stephen E
SE
Lundy
Cindy
C
D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002053:Burn Units / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002056:Burns / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D017276:Friction; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D019876:Sports Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014589:Utah / Q000453:epidemiology