Citation

Hottinger DG, Nasr I, Canner JK, Kattail D, Koka R, Schwengel D. Public Health Rep. (1974) 2018; 133(5): 570-577.

Affiliation

5 Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Association of Schools of Public Health)

DOI

10.1177/0033354918785909

PMID

30067452

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Characterization of the epidemiology and cost of lawn-mower injuries is potentially useful to inform injury prevention and health policy efforts. We examined the incidence, distribution, types and severity, and emergency department (ED) and hospitalization charges of lawn-mower injuries among all age groups across the United States.

METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional study used nationally representative, population-based (all-payer) data from the US Nationwide Emergency Department Sample for lawn-mower-related ED visits and hospitalizations from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2013. Lawn-mower injuries were identified by using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code E920 (accidents caused by a powered lawn mower). We analyzed data on demographic characteristics, age, geographic distribution, type of injury, injury severity, and hospital charges.

RESULTS: We calculated a weighted estimate of 51 151 lawn-mower injuries during the 8-year study period. The most common types of injuries were lacerations (n = 23 907, 46.7%), fractures (n = 11 433, 22.4%), and amputations (n = 11 013, 21.5%). The most common injury locations were wrist or hand (n = 33 477, 65.4%) and foot or toe (n = 10 122, 19.8%). Mean ED charges were $2482 per patient, and mean inpatient charges were $36 987 per patient. The most common procedures performed were wound irrigation or debridement (n = 1436, 29.9%) and amputation (n = 1230, 25.6%).

CONCLUSIONS: Lawn-mower injuries occurred at a constant rate during the study period. Changes to nationwide industry safety standards are needed to reduce the frequency and severity of these preventable injuries.

Language: en

Keywords

burden of disease; emergency care; epidemiology; lawn-mower injuries; morbidity and mortality trends; noncommunicable disease; public health