Serious childhood accidents involving tractors

OBJECTIVE: To review serious childhood injuries provoked by tractors in our country and to propose adequate preventative strategies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical data of eleven children admitted to our unit due to a tractor related accident have been evaluated. RESULTS: The majority of the events occurred in males and during the summer months, resulting in polytraumatisms with the abdominal region affected in most cases. Mortality was very high (64%). CONCLUSIONS: Accidents with tractors are a major preventable morbimortality factor in rural areas. Several preventive strategies that could reduce the incidence and severity of these injuries are proposed. Language: es