Prevention of trauma: A cooperative effort

Abstract

Dr. Alfred B. Swanson's' 1980 Presidential Address to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand emphasized the need for medical statesmanship in our world: "Each of us has a stake in the future of this planet God has given us. Who is in a better position to speak for man? Is the person who is so highly trained to understand the body's processes and the mind's actions not also capable of understanding man's total living problems and aid in solving them?" The physician is naturally most concerned about the physical and mental well-being of his patients. A patient, disabled by injury, unable to work, harboring a hopeless outlook on life, is of grave concern. Patients with these types of disabling injuries are often seen by the hand surgeon. Injuries to the hand and upper extremities result in substantial losses to the patient and the society in which he lives. Therefore, prevention as well as restoration of form and function of these injuries are concerns of society. Who is better able to aid in this effort than the physician? This article describes and discusses the incidence of hand injuries worldwide, especially those related to agriculture and industry. Types of injuries are discussed. The focus is on safety and prevention of industrial hand injuries through the surgeon's involvement with local, national, and international organizations dedicated to this goal. Statistics on the incidence of industrial hand injuries were gathered by contacting the president of each of the hand societies that comprise the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (Table I). These societies can be influential in the cooperative effort to prevent hand injuries. Some societies, such as the British Society for Surgery of the Hand, are actively involved in prevention programs. In other organizations, individual members have devoted much time to the prevention of industrial injuries. If other surgeons and societies follow their lead by becoming involved, a significant number of industrial injuries will be prevented. International, interdisciplinary cooperation results in the betterment of modern life. In a highly technological and specialized world, the sharing of ideas and knowledge is not only beneficial, but essential to improving the quality of life. Cooperative effort, however, begins with the involvement of an individual in his area of expertise. The surgeon involved in the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured hand, by becoming aware of the preventative aspects, can be an influential force in these programs. Because the hand surgeon sees the injuries, understands the structure and function of the