Lacerations in urban children. A prospective 12-January study
M. D. Baker, S. M. Selbst and M. Lanuti
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.
We prospectively investigated the epidemiologic characteristics of all
lacerations (N = 2834) repaired at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
(Pa) during 1987 and identified common hazards and possible avenues of
intervention. Two-year-old children incurred most injuries; males
outnumbered females 2:1. Almost two thirds (61.8%) of all lacerations
occurred from May through September, and 62.2% between 3 and 9 PM. Most
injuries occurred indoors (47.0%), on the sidewalk or street (22.5%), or in
the residential yard (13.0%). Injuries usually occurred during play (42.3%)
or daily activity (32.1%); 1247 (44.0%) involved some sort of fall. Vectors
most frequently causing injury were broken glass bottles (15.0%), wooden
furniture (12.0%), and asphalt or concrete (11.0%). Broken glass bottles
also most frequently inflicted injuries resulting in functional impairment
(0.2%), hospitalization (0.9%), or both. Complications were seen in 8% of
all lacerations. Our data confirm the importance of injury-prevention
strategies aimed at reduction of discarded glass objects (ie, recycling
legislation), improved furniture design, and improved municipal services
(ie, street repair).
