Rubinstein Aaron J, Thomson Jennifer E, Siracuse Brianna L, DeCotiis Mark R, Ahmed Irfan H, Vosbikian Michael M
From the Department of Orthopaedics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ.
Ann Plast Surg. 2019 Apr;82(4):393-398. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000001747.
Snow blowers represent a highly preventable and increasingly common mechanism of hand injury. This study examines current safety features and their impact on decreasing the incidence of snow blower-related injuries.
The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System was queried to look for injuries related to the use of snow throwers or blowers between 2001 and 2016. From all of the injuries related to snow blowers, we collected information on identifying characteristics, location of injury, and type of injury (i.e., avulsion). Chi-squared tests were used for categorical variable comparisons, and Student t tests were used for continuous variable comparisons. Data analysis was performed using SAS statistical software, version 9.3 (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC). The Consumer Product Safety Commission's provided SAS algorithm was used to calculate all national injury estimates and variances. Statistical significance was determined based on P < 0.05.
Within the study period, there were 3,550 reported injuries. The extrapolated national incidence was 92,799, with an average annual incidence of 5,800 or 1.9 injuries per 100,000 US population per year. The most commonly injured body part was the finger followed by the hand. Most common types of injuries were fractures, lacerations, and amputations.
The incidence of snow blower injuries increased from 2001 to 2016. Unlike with other power tools, Consumer Product Safety Commission-mandated guidelines for safer operation and improvements in equipment have not been successful in producing a decrease in the incidence of snow blower injuries to the upper extremity. Based on this, further equipment modifications are necessary and should be aimed at preventing operators from placing their hand into the exit chute while the machine is still running. Physicians should take an active role in their practice as well as in their professional societies to educate and counsel patients to prevent further injury.
吹雪机是一种极易预防但却日益常见的手部受伤机制。本研究探讨了当前的安全特性及其对降低吹雪机相关伤害发生率的影响。
查询国家电子伤害监测系统，以查找2001年至2016年间与吹雪机或抛雪机使用相关的伤害。从所有与吹雪机相关的伤害中，我们收集了识别特征、受伤部位和伤害类型（如撕脱伤）等信息。卡方检验用于分类变量比较，学生t检验用于连续变量比较。使用SAS统计软件9.3版（SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC）进行数据分析。消费品安全委员会提供的SAS算法用于计算所有全国性伤害估计值和方差。基于P < 0.05确定统计学显著性。
在研究期间，共报告了3550例伤害。推算出的全国发病率为92799例，平均年发病率为5800例，即每年每10万美国人口中有1.9例伤害。最常受伤的身体部位是手指，其次是手部。最常见的伤害类型是骨折、撕裂伤和截肢。
2001年至2016年间，吹雪机伤害的发生率有所上升。与其他电动工具不同，消费品安全委员会强制规定的更安全操作指南和设备改进措施未能成功降低上肢吹雪机伤害的发生率。基于此，有必要进一步改进设备，且应旨在防止操作人员在机器仍在运行时将手放入出料槽。医生应在其临床工作以及专业学会中发挥积极作用，对患者进行教育和咨询，以防止进一步受伤。
