title: Hand lacerations. An audit of clinical examination.
abstract: Over a 6-month period 147 consecutive deep hand lacerations referred to a plastic surgery department were explored in 136 adult patients. At operation 121 complete tendon divisions, and 72 nerve injuries were found. Accident and emergency (A&E) officers diagnosed only 64% of tendon divisions compared with 84% for the admitting hand surgeons. Nerve injuries were more accurately diagnosed, 87% by A&E officers compared with 94% by hand surgeons. These findings support the view that significant palmar hand lacerations should be referred for a hand surgery opinion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Couli
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Percival
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*