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All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are popular recreational and utility vehicles. In 1984, Cogbill published an article regarding three-wheelers. These are no longer manufactured, but the injury and death rate with four-wheeled ATVs is high and disproportionately affects young riders.We conducted a retrospective review at two Level I trauma centers from January 1994 to April 2003. Statistical analysis was performed using the SAS V8.2 program. Values of p0.05 were significant.Two hundred eight patients were identified. There were no differences identified in demographics, mechanism, types of injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS), or Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score. Seventy-five percent were male and 84% were white. The mean age was 23 +/- 13 years. The average ISS was 12.3 +/- 9 and the mean GCS score was 13.1 +/- 3.7. Injury mechanisms were loss of stability (33%), separation of rider from ATV (32%), and ATV versus stationary object (27%). ISS for ages 12 to 15 years was significantly higher than for other ages (14.5 vs. 11.5, p = 0.04, Wilcoxon rank sum test) and included more major head injuries (40.4% vs. 21.8%, p = 0.09, Wilcoxon rank sum test). They experienced fewer spinal fractures (3.9% vs. 15.4%, p = 0.03) and pelvic injuries (0% vs. 9%, p = 0.02, Wilcoxon rank sum test). The GCS score in this group was lower (12.3 vs. 13.4, p = 0.03, Wilcoxon rank sum test).Adolescent ATV riders have more severe injuries and more head injuries than other age groups. Prevention efforts should target this group.

Development of severe scar contractures following burns of the anterior wall of the female chest can lead to various breast deformities. This paper presents a report of 14 female patients operated on for postburn breast deformities over the past 5 years. Our aim in reviewing these patients is to establish the epidemiology and etiology of the breast burns and to present the techniques used for breast reconstruction. Most of these burns were domestic, 70% resulting from scalds. The majority were children, the mean age at the time of the burn being 4 years, and mean age at the time of admission to the hospital for postburn breast reconstruction was 16.5 years. In these cases, split-thickness skin graft, Z-plasty, local skin flap, and areola transposition were the most frequently used reconstruction techniques. In all cases, acceptable aesthetic results were obtained.

Gangrene presenting at birth is a rare clinical problem; it results from diminished perfusion of a part of the body, usually the extremities. A variety of aetiological factors may account for this situation. Arterial thrombosis, emboli, trauma, congenital heart disease, sepsis, coagulopathy, polycythaemia, congenital bands, and birth trauma are some of the causes which should be considered. In the majority of cases, an aetiological factor is not identified. The management of neonatal gangrene is usually conservative, preventing infection of the affected part and allowing the gangrenous portion to declare itself in order to optimise future reconstruction and rehabilitation. In this paper, two cases of newborn with gangrene of an upper extremity are reported.

This study was designed to evaluate the epidemiology and outcome of burn injuries due to paint thinner in a local burn center. During a 10-year period, 32 patients were admitted to our Burn Unit for paint thinner thermal burn. Patients were reviewed regarding the age, sex, etiologic factors, extent and localization of burn, treatment methods, length of hospitalization, and results. There were 30 males and 2 females. The mean age of patients was 25.9 +/- 11 years. The most common etiologic factor was kindling a fire with paint thinner. The mean extent of burn was 33.6 +/- 24% of the total body surface area. All patients sustained burn injury on the face, arms, and hands and five patients among them had extended burn areas on the trunk and/or lower extremity. The mean length of hospitalization for the survivors was 34.5 +/- 21.6 days. Twenty-eight patients were treated by early excision and split-thickness skin grafting. In four patients, burn wounds were healed by conservative management. Five patients with burn size of over 75% of the total body surface area died. In conclusion, paint thinner may be the cause of a catastrophic thermal injury and should not be used for the purpose of kindling fire.