Citation

Dębski T, Noszczyk BH. Eur. J. Trauma Emerg. Surg. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Plastic Surgery, Medical Center of Postgraduate Education, Orlowski Memorial Hospital, Czerniakowska 231 Street, 00-416, Warsaw, Poland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00068-020-01312-5

PMID

32025767

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Trauma to the hand is common and potentially serious, impairing daily living and general quality of life. Patients are often unable to work for several months, with hand function improving only gradually. Here, we review the epidemiology of hand injuries treated at a tertiary referral hospital in Warsaw, Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this single-centre, retrospective study, we reviewed medical records of patients presenting to the A&E Unit of the Plastic Surgery Department, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education in Warsaw, Poland, between January 2001 and December 2005. We assessed a number of patient and injury characteristics, including severity, scored with the Hand Injury Severity Scoring System (HISS), and time off work.

RESULTS: Of 1091 patients with a hand injury, 84% were male and over half were under the age of 40 years. Hand injury commonly resulted in tendon damage (56.1%), especially to finger flexors (79%), and in skin loss (37.8%). Amputations occurred in 24.1% of cases, while fractures (9.6%) and nerve (6.1%) or joint (5.5%) damage were less common. HISS-graded injury severity was moderate in 28.6% of cases, over half of the patients suffered severe (25.5%) or major (26.5%) injuries, and minor injuries were relatively uncommon (19.4%).

CONCLUSIONS: Amongst patients admitted to our Department, the most common injuries were tendon damage, skin loss, and amputations. Over half of the patients presented with severe or major injuries and took six months or longer to return to work, suggesting they were likely to face substantial social and economic consequences of their injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV: retrospective series.

Language: en

Keywords

Hand injuries; Reconstructive surgical procedures; Sick leave; Trauma centres; Traumatology