Underfoot accidents.

The events leading to injury and the contributory factors associated with each event were investigated in a series of 100 patients treated in an A&E department, using a new programmable accident model for the analysis and storage of data. The focal point of the interview with each casualty was identification of the first unforeseen event in the sequence leading to injury, together with the activities and movements at the time of the first event and any objects associated with it. In 37 cases out of 100, the first unforeseen event took place between the feet and their point of support. For example, the foot slipped unexpectedly, a step was missed or a ladder fell. As a result of these underfoot accidents, sprains of the joints of the lower limb were frequent injuries but second injuries occurred more commonly than after other types of first unforeseen events. Underfoot accidents occurred in 10 out of the 38 injuries at work and in 27 of the 62 which took place at home, at leisure, while shopping, etc.