Ban on New year's Fireworks Reduces Severe Hand Injuries: A Nationwide Multicentre Study On The Prohibition Of Pyrotechnics Due To Covid-19 Restrictions

Abstract

Injuries caused by explosions or pyrotechnic devices can lead to severe hand injuries with potential long-term consequences for both the affected individual and the healthcare system. The implementation of a nationwide ban on fireworks during the New Year festivities was only temporarily enforced as part of the protective measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. These two exceptional years provide an opportunity for evaluation as a model experiment to demonstrate the impact of a fireworks ban on the frequency of explosion-related hand injuries. In a multicentre study, five German hand trauma centres retrospectively collected and analysed all pyrotechnic-related injuries that occurred within seven days around the New Year celebration between 2017 and 2023. Severe hand injuries from explosions were significantly less frequent at New Year celebrations during the pandemic period compared with data collected in the years before and after Covid-19. After the return to regular sales laws and celebrations in December 2022, a significant increase in injuries was observed, surpassing even the pre-Covid period. Epidemiological data confirmed a high proportion of minors and male victims. The highest number of injuries was observed on New Year's Eve and the first day of January, with adults mainly being injured during the festivities, while children and adolescents were mainly injured during the first days of January. A national ban proved to be an effective method to prevent severe hand injuries caused by explosive devices and their lifelong consequences. The data obtained in this multicentre study can serve as a basis for informed policy action.