Hand injuries in children presenting to a pediatric emergency department.
OBJECTIVE
To study the epidemiology of pediatric hand injuries.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
Emergency department of a children's hospital.


METHODS
All patients with a final diagnosis of hand injury from July through December 1989.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Four hundred sixty-four patients (287 boys and 177 girls; median age, 10 years) with a total of 477 hand injuries were enrolled in the study. The most common types of injuries were lacerations (38.1%), soft tissue injuries (28.7%), and fractures (19.3%) and sprains (8%); most (60.8%) were sustained at home. Children with lacerations and burns were significantly younger than those with other types of hand injuries (P < .0001). Children with fractures, sprains, and sports injuries were significantly older than those with other types of hand injuries (P < .001). The fifth finger was the most commonly fractured digit (37%), and the fifth metacarpal was the most commonly fractured bone (P < .01). Boys were more likely than girls to sustain sports-related injuries (P < .05) and hand injuries resulting from first fights (P < .01). More hand injuries were associated with football than with any other organized sport (P < .01). All but 16 children (3.4%) were managed as outpatients.


CONCLUSIONS
Hand trauma accounts for a significant number of pediatric ED visits. Physicians caring for children in the ED setting must be prepared to manage a wide spectrum of pediatric hand injuries.
Bhende
M S
MS
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania.
Dandrea
L A
LA
Davis
H W
HW
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000453:epidemiology