A Clinical Study on Hand Injuries

Kang, Chung Nam; Wang, Jin Man; Choi, Ki Hong; Chang, Kwang Jong

Abstract

A statistical analysis was made on the 102 patients of hand injuries and their treatments. The rate of hand injury increases steadily due to the development of industrial activities and traffic accident. The hand has much more delicate functions to be performed and its structural characters should be fully understood to manage them properly. The most important point and to be emphasized is the proper coverage (resurfacing) of the wound as early as possible to avoid infection. For this purpose, early debridement and irrigation of the wound are important previous to the resurfacing. The statistical analysis is concluded as follows: 1. The peak incidence of hand injury was in the age group of 11-20 years (34.3%) and most of all were male in 89.2%. 2. There was no difference rate of dominant side and was almost equal affection of both side. 3. Industrial accident was the main cause and the most cammon type were crushing injuries with open fracture (43.1%). 4. Most of the patient were able to get the chance of early medical care in arriving hospital within six hours in 69.6%. 5. The most common digit of injury was middle finger (25.1%) and 59.8% was monodight involvement. 6. As the final result, the 28.6% (57 out of 199) of finger was amputed at the time of injury or for the purpose of treatment. The most common level of amputation were distal and middle phalanx with the rate of 29.8% each. 7. 46.8% of hand injuries were able to close primarily after debridement including 16.2% with bony amputation. 8. Various complications of hand injuries were observed in 36 case and one of most common complication was the infection in 21 cases (58.3%). About a half (52.4%) of infection were caused by pseudomonas.