Arch Hand Microsurg.  2021 Mar;26(1):12-17. 10.12790/ahm.20.0063.

Analysis and Interpretation of Hand Injuries Based on Data from the National Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance System

• Ryu DH
• Park KS
• Lee YJ
• Shim HS

• KMID: 2513201
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12790/ahm.20.0063

Abstract

Purpose
Like other countries, Korea has a high incidence of hand injuries due to industrial accidents. In this study, the social demographic characteristics of hand injuries treated with industrial insurance in Korea and some related occupational factors were analyzed. The evaluation of the dynamics and trends of hand injuries including the association with related factors were conducted.
Methods
Based on the 2018 Industrial Accident Insurance Panel Survey data provided by the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, a retrospective review was conducted on all hand injuries cases treated with industrial insurance between January 2018 and December 2018.
Results
This review identified a total of 983 cases of hand trauma. The most common age group is 51 to 60 years (36.1%). 61.1% of those surveyed had a length of employment of less than 1 year, and fractures were the most common types of injuries. Amputations were the more frequent injury in the longer working group.
Conclusion
In this study, the number of patients treated using industrial accident insurance was the highest among those with less than six months of work experience In addition, in patients with long working periods, more severe injuries such as severe amputation were observed. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce a precise education program to prevent severe injuries suitable for skilled workers. The findings in this study are significant in providing insight into the current state of Korea's industrial accidents and enabling appropriate preventive measures to be taken.

Keyword

Hand Injuries; Amputation; Occupational injury

Figure

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  Fig. 1. (A) The incidence of hand injuries decreases for workers with a working period of more than 6 months; however, it increases again when the working period reaches more than 1 year. (B) Workers with relatively high proficiency for more than 1 year were more likely to suffer serious injuries, such as amputation.

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