RESUMEN
Las lesiones relacionadas con escaleras mecánicas suelen ser poco frecuentes, pero pueden constituir una emergencia médica con complicaciones potencialmente peligrosas. Se describe el grave compromiso en el miembro superior relacionado con una lesión ocurrida en una escalera mecánica. Paciente de 2 años, que sufrió una caída al bajar por una escalera mecánica, y terminó con el brazo izquierdo atrapado entre uno de los escalones y los peines del descenso del escalón terminal.Ingresó a Emergencias, donde, tras realizar las medidas de estabilización inicial, se trasladó a cirugía para el retiro del cuerpo extraño. No se encontró compromiso vascular o nervioso, pero sí pérdida grave de tejido celular subcutáneo. Se retiró el peine de metal, y se realizó la cirugía reparadora del miembro afectado. Requirió cuatro intervenciones más por Cirugía Plástica y Reparadora. La paciente tuvo buena evolución clínica y recibió el alta sin secuelas funcionales
Escalator-related injuries are rare but can be a medical emergency with potentially dangerous complications. The severe upper limb involvement related to injury occurred on an escalator is described.A two year-old patient suffered a fall going down an escalator; her left arm was caught between one of the steps and the comb of the last step.She was admitted to the Emergency Room for the initial stabilization. The foreign body was removed in the operating room. No vascular or nervous compromise was found, but there was severe loss of subcutaneous cellular tissue. The metal comb was removed, and repair surgery was performed on the affected limb. She required four more surgical interventions for plastic and reconstructive surgery. The patient had a good clinical evolution and was discharged without functional sequelae.
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Femenino , Preescolar , Brazo/cirugía , Ascensores y Escaleras Mecánicas , Heridas y LesionesRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Escalator-related injuries have been considered uncommon and most likely to occur to children. We set out to describe the epidemiology of these injuries with focus on the aging population in order to determine whether or not escalators are safe for the aged, and in order to obtain information to help in preventing escalator-related injuries. METHODS: A prospective survey was undertaken to identify the number and nature of these injuries from May 2004 to June 2006. We enrolled patients who had sustained escalated- related injuries and a standard list of questions and answers were recorded by the emergency physician. A total of 54 Such questionnaires were completed during the study period. Data were analyzed using SPSS 12.0K. RESULTS: The average patient age 63.40+/-20.92 years (range 3-94). There were 18 (33.3%) males. Only 4 (7.4%) were younger than their sixteen year, but 36 (66.7%) were over age 65 and 17 of those were injured from standing on escalators. However of 18 patients younger than age 65, 13 were injured from walking on moving escalators. CONCLUSION: Escalator-related injuries are not as uncommon as previously believed and the aged population over 65 years old is the highest risk group. Additionally, walking on moving escalator was a cause of injuries. Therefore, two orimary prevention strategies are needed. Provision of alternatives to escalators for people over 65 and keeping passengers from walking on escalators.