White M W, Cheatham M L
Department of Surgical Education, Orlando Regional Healthcare System, Florida 32806, USA.
Am Surg. 1999 Sep;65(9):865-9.
The popularity of personal watercraft is steadily increasing, as are injuries related to their use. Many of these injuries are not reported to law enforcement agencies, and available personal watercraft injury statistics are suspected to be inaccurate. All personal watercraft-related injuries treated within a four-hospital system (including the regional Level I trauma center) between January 1993 and December 1997 were retrospectively identified. Patient demographics, accident mechanism, injuries sustained, tourist status, outcome, and economic data were collected and compared with available government statistics for the same time period. Sixty-eight consecutive patients injured during personal watercraft use were identified. Of these, 78 per cent were treated and released, whereas 22 per cent required inpatient management. Fractures and soft tissue injuries were the most common injuries sustained. Ninety-seven per cent of patients were discharged home. There was one fatality. Comparison with state and federal statistics identified that personal watercraft injuries are significantly underreported and have an estimated yearly economic impact of more than $235 million. Personal watercraft injuries represent an increasing source of watersport-related trauma. Government statistics on personal watercraft injuries do not accurately reflect the true incidence and economic impact of such trauma. Mandatory educational programs and increased legislation to improve personal watercraft safety should be promoted.
个人水上摩托的受欢迎程度正在稳步上升，与之相关的伤害也在增加。许多此类伤害并未向执法机构报告，现有的个人水上摩托伤害统计数据被怀疑不准确。对1993年1月至1997年12月期间在一个由四家医院组成的系统（包括地区一级创伤中心）接受治疗的所有与个人水上摩托相关的伤害进行了回顾性识别。收集了患者的人口统计学信息、事故机制、所受伤害、游客身份、治疗结果和经济数据，并与同一时期可用的政府统计数据进行了比较。确定了68例在使用个人水上摩托时受伤的连续患者。其中，78%的患者接受治疗后出院，而22%的患者需要住院治疗。骨折和软组织损伤是最常见的伤害。97%的患者出院回家。有1人死亡。与州和联邦统计数据的比较表明，个人水上摩托伤害的报告严重不足，估计每年的经济影响超过2.35亿美元。个人水上摩托伤害是与水上运动相关创伤的一个日益增加的来源。政府关于个人水上摩托伤害的统计数据不能准确反映此类创伤的真实发生率和经济影响。应推广强制性教育计划并加强立法以提高个人水上摩托的安全性。
