8 JMSR 2014, Vol I ; N°1, 8- 10 Original Article Tea-Cutting Machines Generally Causes Injuries To Which Extremity? Özlem Bilir 1 , Gökhan Ersunan 1 , Mehmet Sabri Balik 2 , Atıf Bayramoglu 3 1 Emergency Medicine Clinic, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Training and Research Hospital, Turkey 2 Orthopedic and Traumatology Clinic, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Training and Research Hospital, Turkey 3 Emergency Medicine Clinic, Ataturk University Medical School Hospital Erzurum, Turkey Corresponding author: Özlem Bilir. Address: Emergency Medicine Clinic, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Training and Research Hospital, Islampaşa Mahallesi Şehitler Caddesi, No:74, Rize, Turkey. E-mail: drozlembilir@hotmail.com Copyright © 2012- 2014. Ö. Bilir and al. This is an open access article published under Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivs 4.0 International Public License (CC BY-NC-ND). This license allows others to download the articles and share them with others as long as they credit you, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially. Abstract Tea is a drink widely consumed all over the world. Tea growing is the most important source of income in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. After many years of being harvested by hand, tea began being harvested by machine, giving rise to an increase in accidents involving the extremities. A retrospective investigation of 14 patients attending our university hospital due to tea-cutting machine accidents between January and December 2011 showed an age distribution of 19 to 71, and that 78.6% were male. The greatest number of cases was determined in September. Left lower extremities were frequently injured as a result of trauma (71.4%), with broken bones and severed tendons being observed in four of these (28.6%). While agricultural machines used in the harvesting and pruning back of tea raise the speed of production, they also lead to a rise in agricultural accidents. This study was intended to determine the severe injuries which such machinery can cause. Introduction After water, tea is one of the most consumed drinks in the world. The Eastern Black Sea is the only region of Turkey in which tea is cultivated. Tea was harvested by hand for many years, but as technology has advanced, machines have now begun being used (Figures 1, 2). Figures 1, 2 Two different tea machines, used in the region, causing accidents. An increase in accidents to the extremities has been observed as tea has begun being harvested using machines. Investigation of injuries of this kind, which had not been seen in the region before such technological devices began being used in harvesting tea, can provide significant data in terms of types of injury and relevant medical approaches. Material and methods Medical records of 14 patients who were admitted to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Training and Research Hospital between January and December 2011 due to tea-cutting machines accidents were evaluated retrospectively. Patients’ data including age, gender, site and outcomes (treatment in the inpatient or outpatient unit) were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) version 15.0. Descriptive statistics were expressed as frequency and cross tables for categorical variables and as mean and standard deviation for numerical variables. Results Fourteen patients applying to our university hospital between January and December 2011 as a result of accidents involving tea-cutting machinery were investigated retrospectively. Patients with major trauma that depletes the labor force in the region apply to the institution that serves as a regional trauma center. The great majority of cases are treated either at small local hospitals or else using their own means. Of the cases applying to our center, 78.6% (n=11) were men and 21.43% (n=3) women, with ages ranging from 19 to 71 (mean age 47 ±15. 44). Accidents were distributed from January to December. The left lower extremity was frequently injured as the result of trauma (71.4% n=10), broken bones and severed tendon being observed together in four (28.6%) of these cases. Upper extremity injury was seen in four (28.6%) cases. Subtotal phalanx amputation was performed in two