title: [Major hand injuries--their causes and consequences].
abstract: To our study we included 1199 patients with hand injuries treated between 1987 and 2000 in II Dept. of Surgery of the Jagiellonian University in Cracow. The severity of the injury was estimated using our four-level, descriptive scale that was convergent to the HISS Campbell's and Kay's score. The most severe injuries (IVO) were found in 95 patients (7.92%) and 74 of them were professionally active. The injuries frequently occurred during operating the mechanical equipment (90%). In most cases these injuries required the stationary treatment after the primary emergency operation and the duration of the hospitalization period was av. 12.6 days. Our results were evaluated in respect to a patient's return to the previous performed profession and also taking into account the permanent hand function impairment basing on Swanson's study. 37 (50%) patients returned to previous professional activity and 37 (50%) patients received the disability pension. The hand function impairment in all patients with the most severe hand injuries was av. 42.9%). We also were taking into account the huge costs of the severe hand injury treatment. Concluding, the severe hand injuries should be treated in the specialist hand surgery centers. Such proceedings allow to minimize the extent of permanent post-injury disability and decrease total costs of treatment.
authors.affiliation: II Katedra Chirurgii Ogólnej, Collegium Medicum UJ w Krakowie.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trybus
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lorkowski
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hładki
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brongel
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000383:Agriculture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015984:Causality; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology