Objectives: To determine if injuries that occur on the farm have characteristics that differ from non-farm injuries. To characterize on-the-farm injuries that met delay criteria (four or more hours from injury to definitive care). Methods: Data from the Iowa System Trauma Registry (STR) for years 1997-1998 were examined. Included were 14,203/15,939 injury visits from 11 Iowa hospitals that maintained hospital trauma registries. These injuries required urgent trauma care and met transfer to level I or II trauma hospitals. Of these injuries, 353 (2.5%) occurred on the farm. Of the 353 on-the-farm injuries, 235 had documented time data with 20.9% having a delay of four or more hours. Results: Amputations (5.1% vs. 1.1%) and internal organ injuries (11.4% vs. 6.2%) occurred more frequently on the farm. Also, machinery (23.2% vs. 1.2%), other transportation (13.3% vs. 3.7%), and animal (10.0% vs. 1.2%) injury mechanisms were more likely to occur on the farm. Higher Injury Severity Scores (ISS), 9-15 (38.5% vs. 31.1%) and 16+ (17.5% vs. 15.4%), were found on the farm. Conclusions: The nature and severity of injuries triaged to level I or II trauma hospitals are unique. Mortality and morbidity need to be reduced with the use of appropriate preventive and emergency care measures. It is crucial for trauma hospitals to be prepared for traumatic injuries that are sustained in the agricultural setting.
Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize the magnitude of fatal and non-fatal traumatic injuries that occur on farms. 2. Recognize that mortality and morbidity need to be reduced with the use of appropriate preventive and emergency care measures. 3. Identify the characteristics that were more likely to occur on the farm and recognize the need for trauma hospitals to be prepared for traumatic injuries sustained on the farm. 4. Recognize that delays in response to severely injured trauma patients in the agricultural setting are an issue that needs to be addressed.
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.