Background

Hand injuries are a common presentation in emergency departments, occurring in a variety of situations and leading to diverse outcomes. Following a hand injury, individuals often experience both functional and aesthetic compromises, even after appropriate management and repair. Salvage procedures may be unsuccessful, particularly when the initial trauma is severe. Regrettably, these traumatic forces were more prevalent in the industrial era than in the agricultural era.

Aim and objectives

This study aimed to optimize the postoperative outcomes by analyzing the causes, affected anatomical regions, and injury characteristics associated with hand injuries.

Material and methods

Between June 2019 and May 2022, 5,659 individuals with hand injuries sought treatment at our emergency department, of whom 521 underwent surgical correction by plastic surgeons. To optimize postoperative outcomes, we conducted a comprehensive review of medical records and photographic documentation of injured hands and analyzed the causative factors, affected anatomical regions, and injury characteristics.

Results

Among the 521 patients who underwent surgical correction of acute hand injuries, 78% were males. Work-related hand injuries were the most common, accounting for 60.1% of cases. The left index finger was the most frequently injured digit (16.1%), while the right little finger sustained the least injuries (5.5%). Extensor tendon ruptures were predominantly caused by cutting injuries involving sharp blades. In the context of acute hand injuries, 34 cases involved metacarpal fractures, 19 of which resulted from traffic accidents. Among these 19 patients, 13 had right-hand injuries. A total of 138 individuals experienced fingertip or finger loss after injury. The most severe outcomes were observed in patients who underwent degloving finger amputations, even after salvage attempts.

Conclusion

Despite adequate surgical salvage and correction of injured hands, varying degrees of functional and aesthetic impairment often persist, potentially leading to significant societal costs and self-esteem issues. The severity of hand injuries is directly correlated with the force applied to the affected area. Therefore, proactive measures should be taken to reduce both the force and opportunities for contact, to minimize the severity of these injuries.