Dataset Information

Epidemiology of hand injuries that presented to a tertiary care facility in Germany: a study including 435 patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hand injuries compose up to 30% of all injuries in emergency care. However, there is a lack of epidemiological data reflecting patient or accident-related variables, injury types, injured anatomical structures or trauma localization.

Objective

The objective of this study is (1) to provide epidemiological information on hand injuries and their patterns and (2) to visualise the frequencies of affected areas of the hand in relation to the most common trauma mechanisms using color-coded heatmaps.

Methods

This prospective single-center observational trial conducted at a surgical emergency department in Germany collected data of hand trauma patients using a standardized documentation form. Demographic data, trauma-related data, diagnostic and therapeutic measures were analyzed. Color-coded heatmaps were generated marking anatomic danger zones.

Results

435 patients with a mean age of 39.5 were included. Most patients admitted on their own initiative (79%). Leisure and sport injuries were most frequent (75%). Digiti II-V were injured most commonly (43%), followed by metacarpals (19%) and the thumb (14%). Blunt trauma and cuts accounted for most injuries (74%). Hand-graphics depicted color-coded frequencies of the affected areas of the palmar and dorsal aspect of the hand for the most common types of injury, as well as the most frequent circumstances of accident. Elective surgery was recommended in 25% of cases, and hand surgical follow-up was proposed in over 50% of cases.

Conclusions

The dorsal aspect of the hand including the 5th metacarpal, the radial wrist and thenar region, as well as the fingertips of Digiti II/III represent anatomic danger zones to injury of the hand. Due to the large variety of potentially injured structures, diagnosis and treatment is not trivial. Specific training is required for all surgical specialties in emergency care, to increase quality of diagnostic work-up and management of hand injuries.

SUBMITTER: Moellhoff N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9958136 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Epidemiology of hand injuries that presented to a tertiary care facility in Germany: a study including 435 patients.

Moellhoff Nicholas N Throner Veronika V Frank Konstantin K Benne Ashley A Coenen Michaela M Giunta Riccardo E RE Haas-Lützenberger Elisabeth M EM

Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery 20220922 3

<h4>Background</h4>Hand injuries compose up to 30% of all injuries in emergency care. However, there is a lack of epidemiological data reflecting patient or accident-related variables, injury types, injured anatomical structures or trauma localization.<h4>Objective</h4>The objective of this study is (1) to provide epidemiological information on hand injuries and their patterns and (2) to visualise the frequencies of affected areas of the hand in relation to the most common trauma mechanisms usin ...[more]

PMID: 36138241

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Project description:BACKGROUND:The burden of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is 2 to 18 times higher in developing countries. However, few data are available regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) process indicators in these countries. We evaluated hand hygiene (HH) facilities and compliance amongst healthcare workers (HCW) in a 600-bed healthcare facility in Northcentral Nigeria providing tertiary care service for a catchment population of about 20 million. METHODS:An in-house facility assessment tool and the World Health Organization (WHO) direct observation method were used to assess the HH facilities and compliance, respectively. Factors associated with good compliance were determined by multivariate analysis. RESULTS:The facility survey was carried out in all 46 clinical units of the hospital. 72% of the units had no poster or written policy on HH; 87% did not have alcohol-based hand rubs; 98% had at least one handwash sink; 28% had flowing tap water all day while 72% utilized cup and bucket; and 58% had no hand drying facilities. A total of 406 HH opportunities were observed among 175 HCWs. The overall compliance was 31%, ranging from 18% among ward attendants to 82% among medical students. Based on WHO "5 moments" for HH, average compliance was 21% before patient contact, 23% before aseptic procedure, 63% after body fluid exposure risk, 41% after patient contact and 40% after contact with patients' surrounding. Being a medical student was independently associated with high HH compliance, adjusted odds ratio: 13.87 (1.70-112.88). CONCLUSIONS:Availability of HH facilities and HCW compliance in a large tertiary hospital in Nigeria is poor. Our findings confirm that HCWs seem more sensitized to their risk of exposure to potential pathogens than to the prevention of HAI cross-transmission. Inadequate HH facilities probably contributed to the poor compliance. Specific measures such as improved facilities, training and monitoring are needed to improve HH compliance.

Dataset Information

Epidemiology of hand injuries that presented to a tertiary care facility in Germany: a study including 435 patients.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Epidemiology of hand injuries that presented to a tertiary care facility in Germany: a study including 435 patients.

Similar Datasets

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