[Injuries caused by motorized lawn mowers--hand injuries the most common ones]

The powerful forces involved in the function of motorized lawnmowers can cause serious injuries. The study reported was based on a series of 81 cases of injury, that were treated at University Hospital, Umeå. Direct trauma to hand and foot was the most common injury mechanism, though high energy expulsion of objects from the machine was not uncommon. A common cause of direct trauma to hand or foot was attempting to clear grass or other matter from the vicinity of the rotating blades. Hand injuries were most common and occurred predominantly in men, whereas women and children accounted for a greater proportion of missile injuries instead. 25 per cent of all hand and foot injuries were amputating fractures. The preventive measures that could and should be implemented to reduce the risk of these injuries include improved shielding of rotating and heated parts, prevention of missile ejection, and the introduction of dead-man grip. The use of protective gear, and greater care in the use of motor mowers generally, would also reduce the risk of injury.