title: Emergency management of hand injuries. When to repair, when to refer.
abstract: The primary care physician can accurately diagnose hand injuries by obtaining a thorough patient history and performing a complete physical examination of the hand. When the severity of injury is doubtful, immobilization in a splint with next-day referral is appropriate. Immediate consultation should be obtained with nerve or vascular damage, fracture-dislocation injuries, open fractures, substantial skin loss, or flexor tendon injuries at or distal to the wrist.
mesh_terms: D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D005392:First Aid; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000628:therapy; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012092:Replantation; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery