Abstract

Background: Hand injuries constitute a significant number of trauma patients all over the world. Advanced countries have well equipped hand surgery units with well-trained hand surgeons and paramedical staff. Hand injuries are more frequent in under developed countries with very little specialist care.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to collect data to have knowledge about hand injuries in one of the largest hospital of Bangladesh in International Medical College Hospital (IMCH) Gazipur, to know the prevalence, handedness, mode and types of hand injuries and their socioeconomic impact.

Methods: Over a period of six months 325 patients of acute hand injuries were analysed and data were entered on prescribed preformed and analyzed using SPSS 11.5 software.

Results: There were 325 patients out of these, 310 were males and 15 were females. The mean age of all patients was 26.84years ranging from 12-62 years? Considering the fractures there were 111 thumbs, 122 index, 45 middle, 3 ring and 40 little finger involvements. It was also seen that there were 37 amputations out of these 4 amputations were at or just distal to wrist level. Hand soft tissues included 162 skin injuries, 42 tendon injuries and 16 neurovascular injuries. Finally, according to procedures performed, there were 140 back slab applications, 148 wire fixations. According to type of anesthesia used, there were 175 local, 3 regional, 6 general anesthesias and in 141 no anesthesia was used.

Keywords: Hand injuries; Occupational injuries