Research Article

Epidemiology of Chain Saw Related Injuries, United States: 2009 through 2013

Table 1

Average annual number and percent of emergency department visits for injuries related to chain saws, United States, 2009–2013.

Number of visits weighted (95% CI)Percent of visits (95% CI)

Total23,179 100

Gender
 Male22,049 (18,104–25,994)95.1 (94.2–95.9)
 Female1,130 (835–1,425)4.9 (4.1–5.8)

Age group
 <10159 (76–243)<1 (.4–1.2)
 10–14293 (152–433)1.3 (.8–2.0)
 15–191,187 (867–1,508)5.1 (4.2–6.2)
 20–293,551 (2,766–4,336)15.3 (13.5–17.3)
 30–394,084 (3,175–4,992)17.6 (16.0–19.3)
 40–494,794 (3,860–5,728)20.7 (18.9–22.6)
 50–594,358 (3,443–5,274)18.8 (16.7–21.2)
 60–693,227 (2,496–3,957)13.9 (12.2–15.9)
 70+1,526 (1,173–1,880)6.6 (5.5–7.9)

Race
 White16,570 (12,880–20,261)71.5 (62.0–79.4)
 Black757 (393–1,120)3.3 (2.0–5.3)
 Others1,011 (495–1,528)4.4 (2.7–6.9)
 Unknown4,840 (2,610–7,071)20.9 (13.3–31.3)

Month of injury visit
 December–February3,947 (3,090–4,805)17 (14.8–19.6)
 March–May6,019 (4,959–7,078)26 (24.0–28.1)
 June–August6,200 (4,931–7,469)26.7 (24.3–29.4)
 September–November7,013 (5,469–8,557)30.3 (27.6–33.0)

Diagnosis
 Laceration18,748 (15,406–22,089)80.9 (79.0–82.7)
 Sprain849 (582–1,116)3.7 (2.9–4.7)
 Contusions and abrasions839 (562–1,117)3.6 (2.7–4.8)
 Fracture705 (490–921)3.0 (2.3–4.0)
 Foreign body405 (233–576)1.8 (1.2–2.6)
 Amputation139 (59.5–218)0.6 (.4–1.0)
 Others1,494 (1,103–1,886)6.5 (5.5–7.6)

Body site injured
 Hand/fingers6,685 (5,351–8,019)28.8 (26.1–31.7)
 Knee4,090 (3,227–4,954)17.6 (15.6–19.9)
 Lower leg/ankle2,886 (2,171–3,601)12.5 (10.8–14.4)
 Upper leg2,608 (1,977–3,240)11.3 (9.4–13.4)
 Lower arm/wrist1,912 (1,421–2,402)8.5 (6.9–9.8)
 Foot/toe1,330 (992–1,668)5.7 (4.8–6.8)
 Eye1,003 (730–1,275)4.3 (3.4–5.5)
 Head/neck983 (751–1,215)4.2 (3.5–5.2)
 Trunk966 (663–1,270)4.2 (3.3–5.2)
 Upper arm/elbow344 (188–499)1.5 (1.0–2.2)
 Others355 (196–514)1.5 (1.1–2.2)

Disposition
 Treated and released21,798 (17,943–25,654)94.0 (92.2–95.5)
 Hospitalized/transferred and hospitalized836 (442–1,230)3.6 (2.4–5.4)
 Others545 (336–753)2.4 (1.7–3.3)

Location of occurrence
 Home13,572 (10,885–16,258)58.6 (48.6–67.9)
 Other public property410 (100–720)1.8 (.8–3.7)
 Recreation area223 (76–370)1.0 (.5–1.9)
 Others<1 (.1–.2)
 Missing8,949 (5,699–12,200)38.6 (29.2–48.9)

CI, confidence interval.
Average annual number.