Aim:
Hand injuries can be considered among the most common cases observed in emergency services. Isolated hand injuries constitute a considerable proportion of occupational accident related injuries. In this study, patients with isolated hand injuries who presented to the emergency service were investigated.
Materials and Methods:
We have retrospectively investigated the data of the patients applying to the emergency service of a third-level hospital between November 2011 and October 2012 with the complaint of isolated hand injuries.
Results:
This study included 96 patients (69 males and 27 females) applying to the emergency service with the complaint of isolated hand injuries in a year. The average age of the patients was 27.95±18.91 (1-75). It was observed that patients applied to the hospital mostly during the day (8 am-4 pm) and less during the night (12 am-8 am). It was found that almost 50% of the patients (46.9%) applied to the hospital in the first hour following the injury. The rate of frequency of injury mechanisms was 50%, penetrating injuries 27%, labor accident 21% and the othercauses of injuries 2%. The injuries were mostly seen on the fingers. Finger amputation was reported in 24 of the injury cases and mostly on the distal phalanges.
Conclusion:
In this study, fingers were the most commonly affected part in all cases of isolated hand injuries and consultation was demanded for most patients.
Keywords: Emergency department, hand injuries, labor accidents