title: [Mason's lacing cord. Potential danger of severe open ocular injuries].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Introduction of new working equipment or the modification of established working routines could induce new trauma mechanisms. In all of theses cases ophthalmologists are not only responsible for ocular treatment they also have to act as assessors. This might include legal aspects, e.g. to validate the circumstances of an accident.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a new trauma mechanism caused by a mason's lacing cord which was fixed with nails. In addition to two case studies we collected experimental data (maximum tension and maximum elongation of various mason's lacing cords) about the triggering event using standard test conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A tensile force of 96.2 N was needed to achieve maximum elongation of mason's lacing cords. With a cord length of 5 m, an elongation of 0.09 m was enough to cause penetrating injuries (for 10 m cord length the critical elongation was 0.13 m). Under these conditions a nail could be accelerated to a velocity of 18 m/s. This may lead to open eyeball injuries with severe visual loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nails fixed to elastic mason's lacing cords are potential risk factors for occupational ocular injuries and severe loss of vision. Caution labels should be attached to the work equipment and proper eye protection should be used to prevent severe occupational ocular injuries.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Sauerbruchstr., 17475, Greifswald, Deutschland, tost@uni-greifswald.de.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tost
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Großjohann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schikorr
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tesch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ekkernkamp
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Langner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bockholdt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frank
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control; D003252:Construction Materials; D020878:Device Removal; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome