Experience in Acute Hand Injuries: Epidemiological Data From 5 Years Period

Abstract

AIM: Acute hand injuries or traumas are very common and increase the work load in emergency clinics. Our aim was to enlighten the epidemiology of hand injuries cases in 5 years period that lead to function loss and work capacity in our country. METHOD: One hundred and ninetysix patients admitted to Emergency Clinic and being treated were evaluated retrospectively according to the clinical records. Demographic, etiologic and clinical characteristics of the patients; age, sex, occupation, injured hand, dominant hand, injury profile, injured tissue and area were recorded. RESULTS: One hundred and fortysix patients (74.5%) were male and 50 (25.5%) were female. Average age was 31,09±15,28 (2-82) and most cases were in 21-30 age (31.1%) range. 107 of all injuries were at right hand (54.6%), 87 were at left hand(44.6%), two were (1%) at both hands. 120 of all injuries (61.2%) were dominant, 76 (38.8%) were non-dominant hands. Admittance time to the hospital was average 3.55±1.79 hours and mostly between 4-6 hours. Most patients were injured in autumn (30.1%). According to the occupation, 107 cases (54.6%) were labours. 68 cases (34.7%) were happened due to the occupational accident. Most injured parts were tendons (32.7%). In addition to 20 cases (10.2%) were result with amputation.These cases injured most in occupational accident and mostly admitted to emergency clinic after 6 hours. CONCLUSION : According to the results of the present study, hand injuries and traumas mostly occur in young male labours and in occupational accidents. Tendons that have an important role in hand functions are the most injured tissue part. Hand injuries are treated with finger amputation in wide range of cases. This situation causes disability and work loss in young male labours.