Hospitalized Swedish children with hand and forearm injuries: a retrospective review.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse incidences and find risk groups in children hospitalized with hand injuries in a national retrospective study.


METHODS
All children with a primary hand or forearm injury admitted to Swedish hospitals during 1987-2001 were retrieved from the Swedish Hospital Discharge Register and analysed as to incidence and characteristics.


RESULTS
Among 9855 children included, the median age was 7.0 y and two-thirds were boys. The incidence increased in both younger (0-6 y) and older (7-14 y) children. Wounds and fractures almost doubled, while muscle/tendon injuries decreased. In younger children, wounds and burns were the most frequent diagnoses. In older children, fractures and muscle/tendon injuries were common. Sharp objects caused most of the injuries. University hospitals treated almost half of the children.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of children with hand injuries admitted to hospitals in Sweden increased annually. Analyses of causes behind the increase are important to counter this trend.
Ljungberg
Elinor
E
Department of Hand Surgery, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. elinor.ljungberg@med.lu.se
Dahlin
Lars B
LB
Granath
Fredrik
F
Blomqvist
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005543:Forearm Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology