Around 53% of Lawn Mower Injuries to Children Require an Amputation

Children and teens are at risk to injuries caused by lawn mowers. Warnings, operating instructions, design modifications and safety tips all aim to protect them from such injuries. A new study presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) found that an alarming number of serious injuries still occur, with 53% of injured children requiring an amputation.

Researchers reviewed data from the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study on the 199 children, ages 0 to 17 years (mean age 8), admitted to a pediatric or adult trauma center between 2002 and 2013 with lawn mower injury. Among the findings-

‘Lawn mover injuries are often devastating to the children and their families, with 53% of injured children requiring an amputation.’

- Boys accounted for 81% of the injuries.
- 55% of the injuries involved a riding mower.
- The most common injury site was the lower extremity, accounting for 65% of injuries.
- 106 of the children required an amputation.
- Common circumstances where injuries occurred included: children running behind a mower; slipping under the mower while riding as a passenger; colliding with mower blades when machines were steered in reverse; and being struck by a mowers that rolled over due to an uneven and/or wet surface. Often, injuries occurred when adults did not realize children were near the mower.
- 91% of injuries occurred between April and September.

The study also found that despite ongoing and increased efforts to educate parents and children about the dangers of lawn mowers, the number of reported injuries requiring trauma center treatment remained steady: an average of 16 per year in Pennsylvania.

While AAOS, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other child and health organizations offer safety tips and precautions to avoid lawn mower injuries, the study found that many parents and children are not aware of, or not following them.

"We have to find a way to stop kids from being around mowers," said lead study author Douglas Armstrong, director of pediatric orthopedic surgery at Penn State Hershey Pediatric Bone and Joint Institute. "Many parents don't realize that the blade is such a forceful, blunt instrument - even if it is hidden under the mower. These injuries are devastating to the kids and their families."

The study authors recommend the creation of a spring education campaign to remind parents on how to keep their children safe from lawn-mower injuries. Social media, school nurses, pediatricians, television ads, and other resources could be effectively employed to inform parents and children, particularly people in rural and agricultural areas where large lawn machinery is used.

Source: Eurekalert