Citation

Alowais FA, Alfaqeeh FA, Alammar AK, Mortada H, Skef Z, Alshammari M, Idrees YE. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. Glob. Open 2022; 10(11): e4648.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/GOX.0000000000004648

PMID

36438472

PMCID

PMC9682610

Abstract

Self-inflicted hand injuries have been described in the literature with varying nomenclature (factitious, malingering, and self-induced hand injuries). Identifying and treating these patients is complex and requires a multidisciplinary team approach at a high cost. There is a lack of literature that describes the different patterns and characteristics of hand injuries among military personnel, especially in Saudi Arabia. We conducted a chart review study involving military personnel who attended the emergency department with hand injuries in Saudi Arabia to fill this gap.

METHODS: This retrospective chart review study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Our inclusion criteria included military personnel patients who presented to the emergency department with intentional self-inflicted hand-related injuries between 2016 and 2018.

RESULTS: A total of 274 cases were included; 241 (88%) were men. Injuries to the left hand (52.2%) were more common than injuries to the right hand. The most common injury site involved the little finger (45.6%). The majority were followed up (97.8%), and 28.8% of cases had a complication. The majority of fractures were managed with open reduction and internal fixation (63.9%). Moreover, the mean sick leave duration was 23 days.

CONCLUSIONS: Self-inflicted injuries can be challenging to diagnose when patients are manipulative about the cause and mechanism. Most self-inflicted injuries involved the left little finger, and most were treated with open reduction and internal fixation. A self-inflicted injury is possible in the context of an unusual injury with a vague medical history.

Language: en