Retrospective Evaluation of Patients with Traumatic Hand Injuries

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to retrospectively examine the demographic, etiologic, and clinical characteristics of patients with traumatic hand-wrist injuries and to profile patients with the goal of contributing to preventive measures and protective programs. Methods: The records of 225 patients who came to the Hand Rehabilitation Unit of our clinic with a traumatic hand injury in the last 5 years were reviewed retrospectively. Many parameters were recorded, including demographic characteristics such as age, sex, and occupation, as well as information about the injured hand, dominant hand, type of injury, injured tendon and zone, number of affected fingers, and associated structures. Results: The study included 225 patients. Tendon injuries occurred most frequently in the 3rd decade. Of the injuries, 31.1% were caused by occupational accidents and 55.1% occurred in the dominant hand. Of the tendon injuries, 64% were flexor tendon injuries and 32.4% were extensor tendon injuries. Extensor Digitorum Communis (EDC)-3 tendons were involved in 11.6% of extensor tendon injuries, and Flexor Digitorum Superficialis (FDS)-4/Flexor Digitorum Profundus (FDP)-5 tendons were involved in 18.2% of flexor tendon injuries. In nerve injuries, median and ulnar nerves were equally affected (14.2%). Conclusion: Tendon injuries primarily affect young male workers, resulting in significant disability and an inability to work. Epidemiologic data can expand our knowledge about injury patterns. Occupational training and the prevention of occupational accidents can help patients improve their functional capacity and minimize their economic burden.