Citation

Makitie I, Paloneva H, Tikka S. Ann. Chir. Gynaecol. 1997; 86(3): 209-213.

Affiliation

Division of Military Medicine, Logistics Training Centre of the Defence Forces, Lahti, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Finnish Medical Society Duodecim)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9435931

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Explosion injuries have been considered an increasing problem in many countries. This study describes the incidence and significance of injuries of this kind in Finland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All explosion injuries in the Finnish hospital records from January 1991 to December 1995 were studied. RESULTS: A total of 493 persons (2.0 cases per 100,000 person-years) required hospital treatment for injuries caused by explosions. In addition to the injured, 14 persons died. Causes of the accidents were the following: various unspecified explosions in 32% of the cases, fireworks in 29%, explosive materials in 25%, and explosions of pressure vessels in 13%. The male to female ratio was 9:1, and the average age of the injured was 30 years. The injury profile showed soft tissue wounds in 26%, burns in 25%, ear and eye injuries in 23%, crush and traumatic amputations in 14%, fractures in 10%, and neurological in 2%. The average in-patient time was 11 days corresponding to altogether 5640 hospital days. CONCLUSIONS: Explosion injuries are epidemiologically not a great problem in comparison with all accidents, but neither can they be considered nowadays as a negligible medical problem in Finland.

Language: en