Analysis of Risk Factors Influencing the Severity of Agricultural Machinery-Related Injuries

Sohn, Jae Ryong; Park, Jun Hong; Kim, Sun Pyo; Kim, Seong Jung; Cho, Soo Hyung; Cho, Nam Soo

Abstract

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with agricultural machinery-related injuries, and to develop strategies to control and prevent such injuries.
METHODS
The medical records of 148 patients who visited the emergency department of Chosun University Hospital with a history of agricultural machinery-related injuries from January 2005 to December 2006 were examined. Injury rates were categorized by age, sex, underlying disease, place and time of injury, mechanism of accident, kind of machine and final diagnosis, Injury severity was calculated by using TRISS method and compared.
RESULTS
148 cases of agricultural machinery-related injuries were identified. Most cases involved men(85.1%) and occurred between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., with seasonal peaks in autumn and spring. The largest number of cases involved men in their sixties(33.2%) with a mean age of 57.5. Significant risk factors for injury were age over fifty, transferred patient, accident on main road , and patients of passenger seat or trunk when the accident occurred. Extremities were more vulnerable than other body areas, and injuries of the abdomen, head, and neck had higher fatality and mortality rate. The overall mortality rate was 12.8%.
CONCLUSIONS
Agricultural machinery-related injuries have a high case fatality rate. Physicians must be able to make rapid, accurate assessments of the injured farmer, taking into account environmental factors that may cause additional problems, and active care of the injured farmer must be initiated at the rural hospital in order for optimal recovery to take place. There will be a need to develop strategies for prevention of these injuries and for educational programs.