Hand Injuries in Industrial Fields

With the increasing number of the occupational accidents proportionate to the rapid development of modern culture, fractures of the hand have become one of the commonest fractures of the human body. The authors have reviewed 211 cases of injured hand in industry which were treated in the department of orthopedic surgery, InCheon Severance hospital from Jan. to Dec. in 1989. The following results were obtained; 1. The peak incidence was in the age group from 21 to 30 years in 87 cases (41.2%). Injured males outnumbered females predominantly by 92.9% vs 7.1%. 2. The hand injuries happened most commonly in the day time (from 8 oclock A.M. to 6 oclock P.M.) but there were no differences between month in the year. 3. Most of patients injured hand (73.9%) arrived at hospital within 1 hour after accidents. 4. The commonest cause of the injury was due to electric saw (21.9% ). 5. Of the 98 fracture cases left hand was more frequently involved than right hand and 64 cases monodigit and remained were polydigits. 6. 43 (32.6%) of total 132 fractured sites were index finger and 74 (56.1%) were distal phalanx. 7. The index finger was also most vulnerable to amputation (56.8% out of 44 amputation cases) and the most distal part was more vulnerable to amputation. 8. The most common method was primary closure and splint. The method of treatment was affected in part by the economic and social status of the patients. 9. In order to prevent hand injuries in industry, preventive policy should be established by improvement of working environments, machines and education.