@article{ref1,
title="Infant walker-related injuries: a prospective study of severity and incidence",
journal="Pediatrics",
year="1994",
author="Chiaviello, C. T. and Christoph, R. A. and Bond, G. Randall",
volume="93",
number="6 Pt 1",
pages="974-976",
abstract="OBJECTIVE. To determine the incidence and significance of walker-related injuries in infants. METHODS. During a 3-year, 8-month period, all infants who were brought to the University of Virginia Pediatric Emergency Department with a walker-related injury were prospectively studied. During the emergency department visit, demographic and epidemiologic information were recorded. The annual incidence of walker-related injuries occurring in infants < 1 year of age that resulted in a hospital emergency department visit was calculated from the home zip codes of the injured patients and from the population of infants < 1 year of age living in Charlottesville and in Albemarle County. RESULTS. Sixty-five patients were enrolled in the study. The age distribution ranged from 3 months to 17 months, with 95% younger < 1 year old. Mechanisms associated with walker-related injuries included stairway falls in 46 infants (71%), tip-overs in 14 infants (21%), falls from a porch in 2 infants (3%), and burns in 3 infants (5%). These injuries predominantly involved the head and neck region (97%), with few injuries to the extremities (6%) and trunk (3%). Although the majority of injuries were minor, significant injuries occurred in 19 infants (29%). These injuries included skull fracture, concussion, intracranial hemorrhage, full-thickness burns, c-spine fracture, and death. After excluding the burned patients, all the serious injuries resulted from falls down stairs. The annual incidence of injuries occurring in infants < 1 year of age, related to the use of walkers, and resulting in an emergency department visit was 8.9/1000, and for serious injuries was 1.7/1000. CONCLUSIONS. The incidence and significance of infant walker-related injuries in infants are unacceptably high.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0031-4005",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}