title: Alcohol-related hand injuries: an unnecessary social and economic cost.
abstract: Severe hand injuries constitute the largest number of acute referrals to this plastic surgery unit, the admission of these patients often displacing routine admissions due to bed shortages, thus increasing waiting list time. This study showed that a high percentage of these injuries were alcohol-related and were therefore preventable. The economic cost to the unit is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, West Norwich Hospital, Norfolk.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Marston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies