%0 Journal Article %T Lower limb trauma caused by power-driven cultivators: report of 23 cases %J Journal of trauma %D 1998 %A Baqué, P. %A Trojani, C. %A Batt, M. %A Hassen-Khodja, R. %A Bariseel, H. %A Pittaluga, P. %A Declémy, S. %A Prate, B. %A Le Bas, P. %V 45 %N 3 %P 485-488 %X OBJECTIVE: To determine the mechanism and the severity of injuries caused by power-driven cultivators. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed the clinical records of 20 patients treated from 1984 to 1996 for a total of 23 lower limb injuries caused by power-driven cultivators (three patients had bilateral injuries) in the Nice University Hospital. RESULTS: A total of 90% of the accidents occurred when the machine was put into reverse and the limb was caught by the rotary blades; the cause of the remaining accidents was unknown. Of the 23 patients, 10 patients (43.5%) suffered posterior dislocation of the knee due to forced hyperextension. Injuries were classed in two groups as a function of their prognosis: group I consisted of osteomuscular lesions without vascular or nerve involvement (11 lower limbs, 11 patients). The mortality rate in this group was 9%, the rate of major amputation was 18%, and the prognosis was favorable in 82% of the cases. Group II corresponded to lower limb injuries with neurovascular involvement (12 lower limb injuries in 10 patients: one patient belonged to both group I and group II). Acute lower limb ischemia was constant in group II; the mortality rate was 20% (two of 10 patients), and the rate of major amputation was 41.6% (five of 12 patients; three emergency amputations and two secondary amputations). CONCLUSION: These agricultural machines can cause severe trauma, and the resulting wounds are contaminated by telluric germs in rural areas. Paradoxically, power-driven cultivators are not legally classified as "dangerous machines." Modification of existing legislation in this field would seem advisable.

Language: en

%G en %I Lippincott Williams and Wilkins %@ 0022-5282 %U http://dx.doi.org/