TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1998//
TI  - Lower limb trauma caused by power-driven cultivators: report of 23 cases
JO  - Journal of trauma
A1  - Baqué, P.
A1  - Trojani, C.
A1  - Batt, M.
A1  - Hassen-Khodja, R.
A1  - Bariseel, H.
A1  - Pittaluga, P.
A1  - Declémy, S.
A1  - Prate, B.
A1  - Le Bas, P.
SP  - 485
EP  - 488
VL  - 45
IS  - 3
N2  - 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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0022-5282
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -