Epidemiological risk analysis of home injuries in Italy (1999-2006)

An uncommon injury: Motorcycle chain injury of the hand, its socioeconomic outcome, and prevention

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to define the characteristics of motorcycle chain injuries leading to serious limb loss, evaluating its socioeconomic outcome.

HYPOTHESIS

The severity of injury with motorcycle chain is associated with hospitalization day and morbidity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Total of 3486 patients applied to the two Centers of the Hand Surgery Clinic and 42 of them with injuries originating from squeezed hands between the motorcycle chain and the rear sprocket were included. Injured extremities were evaluated with the MHISS. In the retrospective analyses, patients were divided into groups according to the severity of injury and compared and patients who underwent replantation, flap and primary repair treatment protocols were also compared.

RESULTS

The number of patients with dominant hand injuries was 33 patients (78.5%). Inquiry of education level revealed that 24 (57.1%) patients graduated from primary school. According to MHISS, 76.2% of patients had major and severe injuries (mean: 95.05). Mean hospitalization time was 2.83 (range: 1-8) days. Mean time to returning to work was 2.71 (range: 1-5) months. The hospitalization days and return to work were longer in patients have major injury according to MHISS (p=0.006). The necrosis was observed three of the 9 (33.3%) replanted fingers. Flap necrosis was observed in two of the 15 (13.3%) cases.

DISCUSSIONS

Most of these injuries are severe and major according to MHISS. As the severity of the injury increases, the duration of hospital stay and the return to work are prolonged.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV; Economic/Decision Analysis.

A web-based prospective cohort study of home, leisure, school and sports injuries in France: a descriptive analysis

Background

Home and leisure injuries (HLIs) are a major public health problem. Cohort studies among general population are needed for targeted preventive actions but remain scarce. We quantify and qualify the HLIs collected prospectively in the MAVIE (Mutualists against Home and Leisure Injuries) observatory, a web-based cohort among volunteers of the French general population.

Methods

Participants reported HLIs from November 2014 to December 2019. We calculated crude and standardized incidence rates (SIRs) on the entire cohort, for each of the selected socio-demographic variables and each of the injury circumstances (place and activity), mechanisms, and injury severity levels. We also described other HLIs characteristics and consequences.

Results

Out of the 29,931 household members enrolled in the cohort, 12,419 participants completed the questionnaires. Among them, 8640 participants provided follow-up data, leading to a follow-up of 6302 persons for 5.2 years and 2483 HLIs were reported. We obtained a SIR of 85.0 HLIs per 1000 persons-years. Most reported injuries did not require emergency department attendance or hospitalization (64%). SIRs were higher in children (< 15 years of age) (109.1 HLIs per 1000 persons-years; 95% CI, 78.2–140.1) and adults aged 70 years and older (123.7 HLIs per 1000 persons-years; 95% CI, 79.2–168.3). Struck or hit by fall was the most frequent injury mechanism (52%) and also among the most severe injuries (73% of Struck or hit by fall HLIs ending with hospitalization). Sport (without contact with nature), and leisure and play activities were the injury circumstances with higher SIRs, 15.2 HLIs per 1000 persons-years (95% CI, 14.6–15.8) and 11.2 HLIs per 1000 persons-years (95% CI, 10.7–11.6), respectively. Outdoor sport activity (in contact with nature) was the circumstance with the highest proportion of hospitalizations (18% of outdoor sports HLIs ending with hospitalization).

Conclusion

The incidences, causes, and consequences of HLI differ by age group and are mainly related to the performance of certain activities. Although the participants in the MAVIE cohort were not representative of the French population. Our study identified potential sub-populations and specific types of HLIs that should be targeted by future studies concerning risk factors and prevention programs.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40621-021-00343-9.

Cognitive functioning, subjective memory complaints and risky behaviour predict minor home injuries in elderly

INTRODUCTION

Home accidents are one of the major causes of death, particularly in older people, young children and women.

AIMS

The first aim of this study was to explore the role of subjective memory complaints, cognitive functioning and risky behaviour as predictors of home injuries occurred in a year in a sample of healthy Italian older adults. The second aim was to investigate the role of risky behaviour as a mediator in the relationship between subjective and objective cognitive functioning and home injuries.

METHODS

One hundred thirty-three community-dwelling older people from southern Italy were administered a battery of tests to evaluate cognitive functioning, subjective memory complaints, and risky behaviour during home activities. Risky behaviour was evaluated using the Domestic Behaviour Questionnaire, created specifically for this purpose. The number of home injuries was recorded for a year throughout monthly telephone interviews. A path analysis was performed to test the following model: cognitive functioning and subjective memory complaints directly influence risky behaviour and number of accidents over a year; risky behaviour mediates the impact of cognitive functioning and subjective memory on number of accidents over a year.

RESULTS

Path analysis confirmed the model tested except the role of risky behaviour as a mediator between cognitive functioning and home accidents.

DISCUSSION

Risky behaviour could represent a further risk factor in cognitively intact older adults with subjective memory complaints.

CONCLUSIONS

The assessment of both cognition and behaviour in elderly can make a valuable contribution in preventing home accidents in elderly.