title: Hand problems presenting to a district general hospital accident and emergency department.
abstract: An audit was carried out of 1000 consecutive patients presenting with hand problems to a busy district general hospital (DGH), accident and emergency department (A&E). Hand problems accounted for 11% of all A&E presentations. Over 50% of cases were examined radiologically with 37% of these having positive findings. Most patients were male (66%) and manual workers (34%). Only 2.8% of patients required admission, and 50% were discharged with no follow-up. Less than 5% were referred by their general practitioner (GP) and these patients presented during office hours (08.00-18.00 h). The vast majority of the presenting patients could have been treated in a modern, well equipped GP surgery.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, Monklands District General Hospital, Airdrie, UK.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gaine
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Braidwood
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology