1887
Volume 2025, Issue 3
  • ISSN: 1999-7086
  • EISSN: 1999-7094

Abstract

Kite-flying festivals, while culturally significant, have been associated with an increase in traumatic injuries. This study aims to analyze and compare the epidemiological trends of kite-related injuries over two consecutive years (2023 and 2024), assess shifts in injury mechanisms, and recommend preventive strategies.

This retrospective study was conducted in the department of emergency medicine at a tertiary care hospital during the time period of the kite flying festival in January of the years 2023 and 2024. All patients with kite-flying–related injuries occurring in the study period were included in this study. The medical records, including demographic details, injury pattern, presenting complaints, mechanism of injury, time of injury, and arrival in the emergency department, whether the patient was directly involved in kite flying or not, were recorded and reviewed. Injury severity score was calculated for each patient, and the treatment given to the patient was recorded.

A total of 145 patients with kite-flying–related injuries were included in the study; 72 and 73 patients in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Males aged 21 to 40 years were the highest-risk group across both years. Thread cut injuries on the face and neck, either alone or in combination, were the highest presentation seen in 64.13% of patients. Most of the patients had abrasion and laceration-type injuries. A significant shift in injury mechanisms was observed ( = 0.011), with increased falls and thread-handling injuries in 2024. Most of the patients were discharged from the ED (77.2%), and seven were shifted to the ICU. Eleven patients had an injury severity score of more than 10.

The kite flying festival–related injuries cause an extra burden on the health system and a negative impact on society. Policy-level interventions, including traffic safety regulations and bans on hazardous kite strings, are recommended.

© 2025 Patel, Ginoya, Kalsariya, Raval, licensee HBKU Press.
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2025-09-21
2025-12-05

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/content/journals/10.5339/jemtac.2025.35
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Kite flying-related injuries at a tertiary care center over 2 years: A retrospective study
Journal of Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Acute Care 2025, 35 (2025); https://doi.org/10.5339/jemtac.2025.35
/content/journals/10.5339/jemtac.2025.35
/content/journals/10.5339/jemtac.2025.35
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): cut throat injury, Kite flying festival, manjha, traumatic injuries and types of injury related to kite flying

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