Vacuum cleaner friction injuries in paediatrics: A 10 year review of national trends

Abstract

Our regional burns service has gained experience in managing paediatric hand friction burns due to vacuum cleaners (VC). We aimed to evaluate our 10 year experience managing these injuries as well as reviewing national data trends in order to identify those at risk of injury.

Materials and methods: A International Burns Injury Database (IBID) request was made to review the number of burn injuries recorded due to Vacuum cleaner injuries (VCIs). In addition, a local IBID request was made to identify the number of burn injuries managed within our regional burns service.

Results: We identified 288 VCIs which have increasingly occurred in England and Wales between 1996-2020 and 32 children who sustained these injuries within our regional burns service. A general theme from both national and local data highlighted that these injuries occurred in males (78%, n=25) with a mean age of 20 months (9 months-4.5 years) affecting children's hands (94%). In 25 cases (78%) these injuries involved an interphalangeal joint. 85% (n = 27) of injuries were deep dermal/full thickness with eleven children (34%) undergoing surgical excision and skin grafts.

Discussion: Significant paediatric burn injuries can be sustained from VCs. Greater awareness is indicated for these injuries and legislation should be considered in order to improve the safety of vacuum cleaners. International burn societies are urged to collect data of these injuries in order to co-ordinate improved prevention strategies and change within the VC industry.

Keywords: Burns; Friction burns; Hands; Paediatrics; Vacuum cleaner.