A 35yearold, righthanddominant industrial labourer presents to your walkin clinic after sustaining a workrelated injury to his right middle finger while using a. Used for distal finger injuries for protection and support. Of acute hand injuries in the emergency department abstract although injuries of the hand are infrequently lifethreatening, they are common in the emergency department and are associated with significant patient morbidity and medicolegal risk for physicians. Injuries of the hand and wrist account of 9% of all work place injuries and 19% of lost work. Finger, hand and wrist injuries texas department of insurance. The number one injury in todays workplace is hand injuries 70% of workplace injuries are hand injuries if you know where your hands are they wont get hurt facts cap safety meetings hand safety awareness. Because our hands and fingers play a role in virtually every task, they are unusually vulnerable to injury. Common finger fractures and dislocations american family. Provide some general educational information about hand and finger injuries. Which parts of your hands are most vulnerable to injury on the job.
Distal phalanx fractures are the most common fracture s. Crush injuries and compartment syndrome crush injuries as well as compartment syndrome are usually surgical emergencies. During the jsa process, ensure that everyone is aware and knowledgeable of all hazards and risks associated with the job at hand. Osteoarthritis thumb basal joint orthopedic finger surgeon dr. Nipping fingers or hands while closing a container. More than a half million disabling hand and finger injuries happen on the job every year, and there are many ways you can be affected. Splinting common static splints tip protector splint used for distal finger injuries for protection and support. Hand injuries are the second leading type of injury on the job in the united states. Hand and finger injury risks in oil and gas industry ehs. Most traumatic hand injuries involve many different structures and systems. Hand and finger injuries account for 15% of all emergency room visits. In a typical year, one out of every 200 workers in the cohort suffered a hand injury serious enough to support a claim for paid leave time. Care of patients with acute hand injury begins with a focused history and physical.
While the contract company was constructing a derrick, a worker sustained a finger injury when his hand slipped from a wrench taking off the top part of his finger and exposing the bone. The hand is the part of the body most often injured and these injuries are sometimes difficult to heal. Fingertip injuries, defined as those distal to the insertion of the flexor and extensor tendons, are the most common injuries of the hand. Racgp hands, fingers, thumbs assessment and management of. Primary physical examination of the hand and wrist examination technique abnormal result possible pathology while the patients hand is in the resting position flexed finger disrupted extensor tendon see figure 6 right look for fingers that are flexed or extended extended finger disrupted flexor tendon see figure 6 left. To keep our hands, wrists and fingers safe, we need to watch out for ergonomic hazards that can hurt us, as well as for the hazards that can cause traumatic injuries. Damage to the nerves in your fingers and hands, loss of a finger, a skin burn or allergic reaction, can. Ulnar nerve injury general examination loss of function of intrinsic muscles of hand i. Fractures of the hand increase rapidly after the age of 8 years and peak around years in boys. Pdf management of the injured hand basic principles of care. Oct 08, 2019 hand injuries can be divided into six general categories. Partial tendon injuries may not result in a lag, but pain will be evident on extension of the metacarpophalangeal joint against resistance.
The most extreme and complex injuries require a replant. Many of these have had serious consequences like amputation of fingers and thumbs. Lacerations cuts that can be major when nerves or tendons are severed. We use our hands for virtually all work tasks that we do. To make an appointment or learn more about finger and hand injuries, contact upmc sports medicine at 185593sport 77678. A pinch point is defined as any point where it is possible for a body part to be caught between moving and stationary portions of. Finger dislocations, ligamentous injuries, and nail bed involvement are all very common. Bone fractures and breaks, tendon and muscle tears, along with cuts and lacerations are some of the more common ways workers injure their hands on the job. Racquet and batting sports produce both distal ulnar and radial wrist pain. Regular hand tools inspections and using protective tools such as finger savers in combination with hand tools where practical play a significant role in prevention of injuries. Machine and tool guards prevent pinch point injuries.
Carpenters and occupational hand and finger injuries. Subtle skin changes can alert the physician to possible nerve injury. Injury leading to triggering of the fingers or thumb leads to. The number one injury in todays workplace is hand injuries 70% of workplace injuries are hand injuries if you know where your hands are they wont get hurt facts cap safety meetings hand. May 2020 hand and finger injuries the gawda safety committee identified hand and finger injuries as a high injury area within our membership, but with the potential for substantial injury reduction. Not all traumatic hand injuries involve a replant or revascularization a surgical procedure to repair severed arteries or veins to restore blood supply to a. Table 8 nature of injury hand and wrist injuries by industry workrelated workers compensation claims1, july 2002 to june 2004. Pin points are a leading cause of both minor and serious injuries to. Alejandro badia hand to shoulder center hand hospital miami thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. The hands and fingers are injured the most of all parts of the body and its very easy to understand why. Hand injuries present either as an isolated injury or as a.
Straight line incisions on the volar aspect of fingers are. Dip extension splint used for distal finger injuries for protection and support percutaneous pinning at distal finger dip hyperextension splint mallet fingers ulnarradial gutter splint used for fractures of the hand. As the hand is closed, fingers should point toward the base of the scaphoid figure 7. There were 186,830 nonfatal occupational injuries to hands and wrists that involved days away from work wrist injuries led to 15 median days away from work and hand injuries led to 5 median days away from work number of injuries to hands and wrists by nature of injury are broken down as follows. Approach to traumatic hand injuries for primary care physicians. Because of how often we use our hands, they are often in the line of fire where they can be injured. Numbness, pale skin, sensitive to cold, tingling sensation, loss of muscle control, reduced grip strength. Hs05029c 308 a 5minute safety training aid whether the hands are of a machine operator, lab technician or office assistanta workers hands are one of their most important tools used in work. The approach the committee took in addressing this task is. Hand and finger injury risks in oil and gas industry ehs today. Many common workplace injuries, like lacerations and punctures, happen to the hands and fingers. When other associated structures arteries, veins, muscles, etc are considered, the potential for a multitude of injuries exist when trauma involves the hand. Corrective actions should be addressed at all levels of the work crew, from the front line workers, all the way up to management. This sfn raises the profile of hand and finger injuries.
Hand injury statistics over 1,000,000 hand injuries in the u. In cy2019, ssc sustained a total of eleven hand injuries, two of which were osha recordable and seven arm injuries, with two of those being osha recordable. Per cent 19 table 9 mean length of stay hand and wrist injuries by principal diagnosis and sex workrelated hospital admissions, july 2002 to june 2004. Referral to a hand specialist is needed if a dislocation cannot be reduced.
Apr 15, 2012 finger dislocations should be reduced as quickly as possible and concurrent soft tissue injuries treated appropriately. Closed hand injuries page acute carpal tunnel syndrome 5 bony mallet 7 central slip rupture 9 closed pulley injuries 11 jersey finger radial nerve palsy 15 scapholunate dissociation 17 simple subungual haematoma 19 skiers thumb 21 tendinous mallet 23 triangular fibrocartilaginous complex injury tfcc 25 trigger finger 27. Finger, hand, and wrist injuries hs05029c 308 a 5minute safety training aid whether the hands are of a machine operator, lab technician or office assistant a workers hands are one of their most important tools used in work. Avoid the danger zone the most common types of hand injury are puncture wounds and lacerations. Make an appointment for finger or hand injury care. The distal nail tips should align when the fingers are partially flexed.
Amputations the cutting off of all or part of the hand. Among the leading causes of hand and finger injuries are failure to follow procedures, using the. Distal phalangeal and fingertip injuries leo rozmaryn md. Care of patients with acute hand injury begins with a fo cused history and. Identify pertinent anatomy of the wrist, hand and fingers perform a physical exam for the wrist, hand and fingers to order pertinent radiographic studies for injuries related to the wrist, hand and finger.
Applying appropriate corrective actions will help reduce the chances of future injuries. Protecting your fingers and hands is important for your work and quality of life. The most common fracture injury in the athletic population occurs in the fingers. Hand injuries assessment and management in ed this document reflects what is currently regarded as safe practice. The goal of treatment is restoration of a painless, functional digit with protective sensation. Hand and finger positioning is the number one cause of hand injuries. Getting clothing or jewelry tangled in a pinch point. There is a lag in extension at the metacarpophalangeal joint. Finger, hand and wrist injuries texas department of.
Communication and teamwork are two very important areas in determining and eliminating hazards of the job. Overuse injuries are stressinduced and include tendon inflammation and. Highpressure injection injuries are a special type of fingertip injury resulting in a. May 14, 2020 injury to hands and fingers are among the most frequent workplace injuries. By identifying hazards and developing safety measures, you and your employer can prevent your hands from being among the 500,000 injured in canada every year. There are few work activities, which do not involve the hands. Although maintenance of length, preservation of the nail, and appearance are important, the primary goal of treatment is a painless fingertip with durable and sensate skin. Nipping fingers or hands with hand tools like pliers. Apr 01, 2016 due to large number of hand and finger injuries each year, most oil and gas companies put hand and finger injury campaigns in their annual hse plans and define it as one of their kpis. Thumb ulnar collateral ligament tears ulnar collateral ligament ucl injuries of the thumb are extremely common and often seen in skiing, basketball, and football. The hand, phalanges and metacarpal bones metacarpal bones injuries to hands are hard to repair due to the complexity of the hand and the fact that the bones in the hands are made of several pieces after an injury, the hand is unable to function as it did before the injury due to loss of. Mobile and supportive structures most prone to injury. Injury occurs from an abduction moment at the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint mcpj such as a fall onto an outstretched hand with the thumb abducted. Per cent 19 table 9 mean length of stay hand and wrist injuries by principal diagnosis and sex workrelated hospital admissions, july 2002 to.
Any finger or hand injury requires proper treatment to ensure you have no permanent loss of function or deformity. Hand injurieshand injuries well over 1,000,000 hand injuries a year 20% of disabling workplace injuries involve the hands. Yet over a quarter of a million people suffer serious and often disabling hand injuries each year. Injury types lacerations 63% crush % avulsion 8% puncture 6% fracture 5% primary cause of hand injuries is equipment not performing as expected 3 as expected. While treating hand injuries can prove to be costly and often require. Pin points are a leading cause of both minor and serious injuries to the fingers and hands.
The skin on your hands can be affected by dermatitis, caused by contact with. Company fined after exposing workers to hand arm vibration syndrome havs what happened. Nov 27, 2020 pdf injuries to the fingertip are common. Nipping fingers or hands with equipment that has sliding parts or hinges.
Hand finger injuries are divided into 6 general categories. Arm, hand and finger corrective actions there were several common corrective actions among arm, hand, and finger injuries associated with the hazardous tasks and activities. The hand is the second most common body part to be injured at work. Wrist and hand injuries represent some of the most common injuries of all sports. However, as in any clinical situation, there may be factors which cannot be covered by a single set of guidelines. They are often taken for granted and not protected as well as they should be. The best way to protect our hands, wrists and fingers from injury is to prevent accidents from happening in the first place. One out of every 10 hand injuries results from the improper use of hand tools and four out of ten injuries occur in the handling of materials. Evidencebased management of acute hand injuries in the emergency department abstract although injuries of the hand are infrequently lifethreatening.
Traumatic finger injuries rsna publications online. Hand and finger injuries in rock climbers sebastien gnecchi. Some accidents analysis accident by activity production 6 logistics 3. Dip extension splint used for distal finger injuries for protection and support percutaneous pinning at distal finger dip hyperextension splint mallet fingers ulnarradial gutter splint used for fractures of the hand, sprainsstrains wrist cock upneutral wrist. To date, there have been four injury cases involving fingers, hands and arms. If workers cant return to work because theyve suffered workrelated hand injuries, thats costly paid time off, not to mention the pain and difficulties experienced by the affected worker.
Protecting your fingers and hands is important for your work. Identify limbthreatening hand injuries that require emergent hand surgery consultation. Give me back my hand and fingers too physical exam part 1. Banning the use of some tools such as adjustable wrenches is critical, as they have tendency to slip and increase the likelihood of hand an finger injuries. At one time or another, everyone has had a minor injury to a finger, hand, or wrist that caused pain or swelling.
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