@article{ref1,
title="Lower limb trauma caused by power-driven cultivators: report of 23 cases",
journal="Journal of trauma",
year="1998",
author="Baqué, P. and Trojani, C. and Batt, M. and Hassen-Khodja, R. and Bariseel, H. and Pittaluga, P. and Declémy, S. and Prate, B. and Le Bas, P.",
volume="45",
number="3",
pages="485-488",
abstract="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 &quot;dangerous machines.&quot; Modification of existing legislation in this field would seem advisable.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-5282",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}