OBJECTIVEHead injury (HI) is the leading cause of mortality and life-long disability in infants. Infants have different anatomical and pathophysiological brain structures from other age groups. The aim of this study was to survey infant HI patients admitted to Shahid Behest Hospital in Kashan, Iran from 2004 to 2010, and to identify the causes of HIs in this age group.

METHODSIn this retrospective study, all HI patients under the age of two who were hospitalized for more than 24 hours between January 2004 and January 2010 were enrolled in the study. Demographic, etiologic, and injury data were collected and a descriptive analysis was performed.

RESULTSInfants comprised 20.8% of all children (under 15 years old) with HIs and 65.1% of the injuries occurred in the home. Falls were the most common cause of injury (63.4%). In hospital mortality was 6.6 per 100 000 infants. A decreasing trend was seen in home events, but HIs caused by traffic accidents were increasing during the study period. The amount of HI infants resulting from car accidents has tripled from the years 2004 to 2010.

CONCLUSIONAlthough home events and falling are the main causes of infant HIs and need attention, our study showed an increase of HIs caused by road traffic accidents, especially by car accidents, thus legislation for the implementation of protective equipment such as child safety seats and programs is urgently needed.

Accidents, Traffic ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Iran ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVELivestock-related injuries are one of the important factors causing morbidity and mortality in patients admitted to hospital. Treatment of these patients is still a major problem in health care system. The aim of current study was to assess the epidemiology of livestock-related injuries in a major trauma center in Iran from 2006 to 2011.

METHODSIn a prospective study, patients with livestock-related injuries who were consecutively admitted to the trauma center in Kashan, Iran between 2006 and 2011 were evaluated. The data collected included patient's demographics, place and nature of accident, damaged organ, educational level, transport and outcome. Data were expressed as mean +/- standard deviation.

RESULTSA total of 129 patients were included in this study, accounting for 0.3% of all trauma admission (40 273 cases). The mean age was (55.27 +/- 14.45) years. Men were affected four times more than women. Falling down from livestock is the main mechanism of trauma in all groups. Upper and lower extremities were most frequently injured (n equal to 72), followed by the head, neck and spine (n equal to 33 for each). There was one death resulting from livestock-related injury in this study.

CONCLUSIONDespite the low incidence, livestock-related injuries can damage major organs of human body and therefore appropriate training program to increase the safety awareness in home and outdoor is very important.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Iran ; epidemiology ; Livestock ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Trauma Centers ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology