Occupational injuries and hand - An experience of 182 cases

Abstract

To observe the demography of hand bone fractures and the surgical procedure outcome and to observe the anatomical site of individual metacarpal and phalangeal fractures with machine related injuries.: This is a retrospective record analysis of 182 cases of hand bone fractures associated with occupational related injuries.: Records of traumatic hand bone fractures irrespective of age and sex referred from the emergency dept were reviewed .The records of pure soft tissue injuries of hand and burns were excluded. Data were analyzed and projected in the form of tables and figures. : Cross tabulation for the entire pattern was done, due to many variables statistical significant analysis could not be derived.: There were total 182 cases of which (90%) males, (9%) females and 2 cases where gender was not mentioned. Most of the age group were young adults (15 to 25yrs) with machine contact related injuries. Of machine related injuries, 29% had cutting machine injuries followed by press punching machine (27%). The most common phalanx involved in all categories of occupational injuries was distal phalanx.: Most of the hand bone fractures were noted in the right hand of young males with compound fracture of distal phalanx being more commonly involved; most of them had multiple finger involvement.Cutting and press punching machines caused severe crush injuries, ending up in high number of revision amputation than concrete mixer and heavy objects fall on hand. Hence extra care and safety features with supervision by experts are required while operating these types of machines.Shaft of metacarpal and proximal phalangeal fracture were more commonly involved as per individual site analysis.