Abstract
Background
Knives cause more disabling injuries than any other type of hand tool.
Study Objectives
This study investigates knife-related injuries requiring Emergency Department (ED)
treatment among children and adults in the United States (US) from 1990 through 2008.
Methods
A retrospective analysis of data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance
System of the Consumer Product Safety Commission was conducted.
Results
An estimated 8,250,914 (95% confidence interval [CI] 7,149,074–9,352,755) knife-related
injuries were treated in US EDs from 1990 to 2008, averaging 434,259 (95% CI 427,198–441,322)
injuries annually, or 1190 per day. The injury rate was 1.56 injuries per 1000 US
resident population per year. Fingers/thumbs (66%; 5,447,467 of 8,249,410) were injured
most often, and lacerations (94%; 7,793,487 of 8,249,553) were the most common type
of injury. Pocket/utility knives were associated with injury most often (47%; 1,169,960
of 2,481,994), followed by cooking/kitchen knives (36%; 900,812 of 2,481,994). Children
were more likely than adults to be injured while playing with a knife or during horseplay
(p < 0.01; odds ratio 9.57; 95% CI 8.10–11.30). One percent of patients were admitted
to the hospital, and altercation-related stabbings to the trunk accounted for 52%
of these admissions.
Conclusions
Knives represent an important source of morbidity and mortality to people of all ages.
Manufacturers should develop safer knife designs that incorporate features, such as
improved opening and closing mechanisms on pocket knives, to prevent these injuries.
Other potential safety efforts include targeted educational interventions and changes in voluntary product
safety standards and public policy.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 12, 2013
Accepted:
November 29,
2012
Received in revised form:
November 17,
2012
Received:
January 4,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
