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Citation
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Svider PF, Johnson AP, Folbe AJ, Carron MA, Eloy JA, Zuliani G. Laryngoscope 2014; 124(10): 2257-2261. |
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Affiliation
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Department of Otolaryngology -Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA. |
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Abstract
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OBJECTIVES: To estimate nationwide incidence of emergency department (ED) visits for battery-related injury (BRI) occurring in the head and neck, and analyze demographic and anatomic-specific trends.
METHODS: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was searched for BRI in the head and neck, with analysis for incidence, anatomic site, age and gender, and specific diagnoses.
RESULTS: There were an estimated 18,803 head and neck BRI ED visits from 2003-2012. 65.8% of patients were male. 92.8% of patients were treated/examined then released, and 4.7% were admitted. A plurality (34.2%) of patients had BRI related to nose injures, and this represented the youngest cohort (Median-3 years old). The vast majority of ear and nose diagnoses were "foreign bodies"; 2/3 of mouth injuries were related to burns, while lacerations predominated in the face and head. Nearly half of ED visits involved patients between 2 and 5 years of age. 45.2% of cases involving patients ≥ 65-years-old were related to hearing aid batteries as foreign bodies.
CONCLUSION: BRI in the head and neck results in a significant amount of ED visits. Mechanisms of injury vary by age and anatomic location, but a considerable male predilection exists. While pediatric patients are primarily affected, particularly patients between 2-5 years old, injuries do occur among adults. Importantly, the prevalence of dislodged hearing-aid batteries in the elderly necessitates comprehensive patient education to increase awareness and counseling regarding this complication. Awareness of demographic and anatomic-specific trends reported in this analysis may be an invaluable adjunct for history-taking and clinical-examination.
Language: en |