title: Paediatric hand injuries and the galvanized-iron fence.
abstract: A review of all cases of operative hand surgery at The Adelaide Children's Hospital during the period January 1-June 30, 1988 yielded 38 cases that resulted from trauma (burns and fractures excluded). Lacerations from uncapped galvanized-iron fences occurred in 10 patients. Of these patients, two patients required skin grafts, seven patients had flexor-tendon injuries and three patients suffered digital-nerve lacerations. Twenty-five fingers were damaged. The pattern of injury involves multiple digits at different levels, with distally-based skin flaps, frequent divisions of flexor tendons and less-frequent nerve damage. This serious injury is common in South Australia but could be prevented easily by capping all iron fences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Adelaide Children's Hospital, SA.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000517:prevention & control; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000209:etiology