Wringer injury

Abstract

One hundred and sixteen instances of wringer injury seen in the Bradford ‘A’ Group of Hospitals are reviewed. Of these 90 were children, 55 of them under the age of five. The risk of injury is shown to be twice as high for boys as for girls in the 1–4 age-group. Patterns of injury in the various age-groups are recorded. Children usually suffered a closed forearm injury, often complicated by skin necrosis. Injuries in the 15–50 age-group, the main users of domestic washing machines, were few and minor. In the elderly, open degloving injuries of the hand, and post-traumatic joint stiffness were the main problems. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. Case reports are given of 6 serious wringer injuries in children. Principles of treatment are outlined. Preventive aspects of the injury are discussed, against the background of the detailed circumstances of individual accidents and of the striking difference in the safety record of different brands of washing machines. Comments are made on the design requirements for safety in domestic appliances. One hundred and sixteen instances of wringer injury seen in the Bradford ‘A’ Group of Hospitals are reviewed. Of these 90 were children, 55 of them under the age of five. The risk of injury is shown to be twice as high for boys as for girls in the 1–4 age-group. Patterns of injury in the various age-groups are recorded. Children usually suffered a closed forearm injury, often complicated by skin necrosis. Injuries in the 15–50 age-group, the main users of domestic washing machines, were few and minor. In the elderly, open degloving injuries of the hand, and post-traumatic joint stiffness were the main problems. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. Case reports are given of 6 serious wringer injuries in children. Principles of treatment are outlined. Preventive aspects of the injury are discussed, against the background of the detailed circumstances of individual accidents and of the striking difference in the safety record of different brands of washing machines. Comments are made on the design requirements for safety in domestic appliances.