D. Chauhan1, C. Villegas1, R. Bueser1, S. Bonne1, D. Livingston1 1Rutgers – New Jersey Medical School,Department Of Trauma/critical Care,Newark, NJ, USA
Introduction:
Our trauma center has observed an increase in children with severe injuries from glass tables. This mechanism of injury is not well described. The goals of this study were to describe the burden of glass table injuries using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) dataset and compare it to our data from a level 1 urban trauma center.
Methods:
The NEISS dataset from 2009 to 2015 was reviewed for glass table injuries. Data on demographics, injury severity, its description and outcomes were extracted. Cases were divided as they related to the glass shattering: definite, probable and not due to faulty glass. Similarly, our trauma registry was queried for all patients injured involving breaking glass tables from 2001 to 2016. An online search of 3 furniture websites was performed for details of the glass and safety information provided to consumers.
Results:
3241 patients were reviewed in the NEISS data; 1151 definitely and 665 probably sustained injury due to the glass itself. Defined criteria (e.g. torso penetration or shock) to classify injury severity were developed and each injury was classified as mild or severe. 265 injuries were severe, 233 (88%) of which were due to faulty class. There was a bimodal distribution in age with peaks at 2 and 22 years. Demographics, injury pattern and disposition are shown in the Table and is compared to the 24 patients treated at our trauma center. No websites provided any safety instructions for glass tables. 113/300 (38%) tables examined had no information if the glass was tempered or on glass thickness. Currently there are no quality requirements for glass tables in the United States.
Conclusion:
Glass table injuries are not uncommon, occasionally lethal and preventable. The burden is real, likely under reported and costly. Children are especially at risk. Warnings to consumers and enactment of glass standards by the Consumer Product Safety Commission is warranted.
