MOTORBOAT PROPELLER INJURIES IN WISCONSIN - ENUMERATION AND PREVENTION

To ascertain the nature and extent of motorboat propeller injuries in Wisconsin. Design: Retrospective study of deaths and injuries from out board motor propellers reported to the Wisconsin Division of Health, V ital Statistics, and reported by a statewide retrospective survey of e mergency departments. Results: For the study period 1987 through 1989, three fatalities were found in Vital Statistics and Emergency Departm ent records and 14 nonfatal injuries reported by respondents to the Wi sconsin emergency department survey. Thirty-six percent (5 of 14) of t he nonfatal injuries occurred in water skiers. Injuries involved the l ower extremities in 10 of 14 nonfatal cases (71%), frequently in assoc iation with other anatomic areas. At least three cases involved very s evere injuries, with mean acute care medical charges of more than $100 ,000 per case. Conclusions: Where boating is common, fatal and severe injuries from propellers occur with regularity. These injuries are oft en severe, requiring complicated and expensive treatment. The authors urge improved documentation of the incidence of propeller injuries, an d an active exploration of prevention strategies including fitting mot orboat propellers with guards.