Farm Accidents: A Clinical and Statistical Study Covering Twenty Years

AUTHOR ABSTRACT

Six hundred fifty-eight patients with serious injuries due to farm accident, representing one-fifth of all the admissions caused by trauma, were treated at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital during the years from 1929 to 1948.

Such accidents showed a definite variation in seasonal incidence with a peak during July and August for which haying, repair and construction of buildings, and children at play around farm machinery were largely responsible.

Routine chores were the most dangerous motivating activities throughout the year. Farm animals, tools and machinery contributed their share of injuries in about equal proportions. Falls were numerous.

Exactly one-half of the accidents occurred either in the barn or barnyard.

Nearly 50 per cent of the patients reached the Hospital in two hours.

Fractures comprised approximately one-third of the 1,527 recorded injuries. Extensive lacerations, division of nerves, tendons and blood vessels, and partial or complete amputation of extremities or portions thereof were common.

The average period of hospitalization was 18.3 days during the first decade of the survey and 14.1 during the second.

The mortality fell from 5.1 to 0.8 per cent.

Many farm patients were able to pay nothing for their hospitalization and professional care.

JOURNAL: Am J Surg. 1949; 78(5): 652- 660.

Note: American Journal of Surgery.