Prevention of high-pressure injection injuries to the hand.
OBJECTIVE
To identify populations at high risk for, and the usual mechanisms of injury in, high-pressure injection injuries to the hand.


METHODS
A case note review of a historical cohort of 76 patients, presenting with high-pressure injections injuries to the hand over a 12-year period, collected information including sex, age, hand dominance, and occupation of the patient and mechanism of injury, when documented.


RESULTS
Eighty-two percent of these injuries were work-related, affecting mainly manual workers (84%), including 13 painters, 10 mechanics, 8 farmers, and 3 water blasters. The mechanism of injury, recorded in 63%, was most commonly a ruptured hose or inadvertent gun discharge during cleaning or use.


CONCLUSIONS
Preventative measures could include a targeted safety program for equipment users, engineering improvements in gun and hose design, economic incentives, and workplace legislation.
Hart
Raymond G
RG
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY 40202, USA.
Smith
Gillian D
GD
Haq
Adeel
A
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011312:Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors