Hand trauma in shop class

RETRACTED: Can a Blade-Stopping Mechanism on Circular Table Saws Reduce the Severity of Hand Injuries in Contact Scenarios? A Cadaveric Study

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. After online publication, communication between the authors and a reader resulted in some further investigation by the authors. The additional data collected by the authors suggested that the reported findings are not accurate. The authors found the data published in Table 1 was invalidated by an incorrect model. The editor discussed the errors with the authors and contacted the Research Director at the authors' institution, and it was agreed that a retraction was necessary. Based on the discussions with the authors and their institution, the editor and authors have concluded that the study contains errors.

Trends in Pediatric Traumatic Upper Extremity Amputations

Background: Traumatic upper extremity amputation in a child can be a life-altering injury, yet little is known about the epidemiology or health care costs of these injuries. In this study, using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), we assess these trends to learn about the risk factors and health care costs of these injuries. Methods: Using the HCUP KID from 1997 to 2012, patients aged 20 years old or younger with upper extremity traumatic amputations were identified. National estimates of incidence, demographics, costs, hospital factors, patient factors, and mechanisms of injury were assessed. Results: Between 1997 and 2012, 6130 cases of traumatic upper extremity amputation occurred in children. This resulted in a $166 million cost to the health care system. Males are 3.4 times more likely to be affected by amputation than females. The most common age group to suffer amputation is in older children, aged 15 to 19 years old. The frequency of amputation has declined 41% from 1997 to 2012. The overwhelming majority of amputations (92.54%) involved digits. Conclusions: Pediatric traumatic amputations of the upper extremity are a significant contribution to health care spending. Interventions and educational campaigns can be targeted based on national trends to prevent these costly injuries.

Table saw injuries: epidemiology and a proposal for preventive measures

BACKGROUND

Table saws are ubiquitous devices in professional, home, and school woodshops that have the potential to cause severe injuries. Many of these injuries results in finger and thumb tendon, nerve, and vascular damage or amputation. Long-term outcomes of these injuries can include functional and sensory deficits. Table saw manufacturers are required to equip saws with blade guards to prevent blade contact; nevertheless, treatment of table saw injuries is a common occurrence in U.S. emergency departments.

METHODS

The authors performed a literature search using PubMed and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature to compile epidemiology data relevant to table saw injuries. The authors also reviewed the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's briefing package on table saw blade contact injuries.

RESULTS

Over 30,000 table saw injuries occur annually. Fingers and hands are the most frequently injured body parts, and lacerations are the most common injuries. Individuals suffering from occupational injuries tend to be younger than those injured during amateur woodworking. A small but important minority of injuries are to students participating in school shop classes. Medical costs for the treatment of table saw injuries are estimated at more than $2 billion every year.

CONCLUSIONS

SawStop technology stops the saw blade when contact with skin is made, resulting in a small cut rather than a more complicated laceration or amputation. The application of this novel technology in saw designs can prevent serious injuries that deleteriously affect lives at the personal and societal levels.

Nonoccupational table saw-related injuries treated in US emergency departments, 1990-2007

BACKGROUND

Table saws are associated with more injuries than any other type of woodworking tool. There are no published national epidemiologic studies of table saw-related injuries.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted of data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1990 to 2007. Sample weights provided by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System were used in all analyses to adjust for the inverse probability of case selection and make national projections regarding table saw-related injuries.

RESULTS

An estimated 565,670 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 473,442-657,898) table saw-related injuries were treated in US Emergency Departments from 1990 to 2007. Children (younger than 18 years) were more likely to be injured at school (p < 0.01; relative risk = 68.79; 95% CI: 46.58-101.61), whereas adults were more likely to be injured at home (p < 0.01; relative risk = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.82-2.32). Fingers/thumbs were injured most often (86%; 486,181 of 565,670) and lacerations were the most common type of injury (66%; 373,319 of 565,360). Amputations were associated with 10% (56,848 of 565,360) of the injuries, and most of the amputations involved the finger/thumb (56,817 of 56,848). Eight percent (47,916 of 565,458) of patients were hospitalized.

CONCLUSIONS

Most table saw-related injuries result from contact with the saw blade. Passive injury prevention strategies focusing on preventing finger/thumb/hand contact with the blade need to be implemented.

The economic impact of electric saw injuries to the hand

PURPOSE

Injuries from electric saws cause considerable hand trauma. This study is designed to provide information detailing the costs of these injuries.

METHODS

The study was performed in a tertiary referral academic medical center. The records of patients injured by electric table saws were reviewed. Information regarding demographics, injury severity, medical expense, and time lost from work was analyzed. The patients were stratified by injury severity for further analysis. The mean wage for the region was used to estimate costs of time away from work. The Consumer Protection Agency's review was used to estimate the nationwide burden of these injuries.

RESULTS

The study group included 134 patients. Of these patients, 126 were male and 8 were female. The dominant hand was injured in 20; the nondominant, in 114. The mean age was 47.0 years. The mean time lost from work was 64 days. The mean cost of medical expenses for all patients was $22,086, with $8,668 in lost wages, for a total of $30,754 mean cost per injury. The total economic burden for the injuries in this study is $4,121,097. These injuries represent a spectrum of severity, with minor injuries incurring lower hospital fees and requiring less time off work as compared to more involved injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

Electric saws cause a wide spectrum of injuries that result in not only tremendous physical and emotional pain but also substantial economic impact as well. Technologies that would prevent such injuries would be a socioeconomic advancement. Federal mandates to implement such technologies should be encouraged.