According to a recent study, more than 70,000 children and teens are sent to the emergency room each year for treatment of injuries resulting from injuries and complications from medical devices and medical malpractice. The majority of these cases involved contact lenses, according the data. Researchers at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that about one-fourth of ER visits by children and teens are caused by infections and eye abrasions from wearing contact lens that were mis-prescribed or improperly used. Almost 34,000 problems were linked to use of contact lenses in these two year period.

Other common problems found included puncture wounds from hypodermis needles breaking off in the skin while injecting medicine or illegal drugs; infections in young children with ear tubes; and skin tears from pelvic devices used during gynecological exams in teen girls.

The most serious problems stemmed from "an implanted device such as brain shunts for children with hydrocephalus (water on the brain); chest catheters for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at home; and insulin pumps for diabetics." The survey found that infections and overdoses were the most common issues with these devices.

The study analyzed medical records from ER visits reported in a national injury surveillance system. "Based on the data from about 100 nationally representative hospitals, they estimated that 144,799 medical device-related complications occurred during 2004 and 2005, or more than 70,000 yearly."

This is the first recorded study that evaluates device-related injuries in children only. The data did not include device problems in already hospitalized children.

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