title: Economic consequences of accidents to hands and forearms by log splitters and circular saws: cost of illness study.
abstract: We estimated costs associated with injuries to hands from log splitters and circular saws used to cut up firewood and assessed the value of prevention. The study was carried out as a cost of illness study with an incidence approach based on 57 consecutive patients (median age 51; range 8-81) with injuries to the hand or forearm. Twenty-six of the 57 had an amputation which required microsurgery and 31/57 had various injuries. Median Hand Injury Severity Score (HISS) reflecting the severity of all injuries was 67 (range 6-332). Median DASH score after 2-7 years was 12.5 (0-73.3). Total cost (direct costs, costs of lost productivity, and lost quality of life) was estimated to roughly EUR 14 million (EUR 2.8 million/year), where the cost of lost quality of life is 82% of the total cost and loss of productivity and direct costs are 9% each. Injuries sustained from log splitters and circular saws account for considerable costs, but first and foremost human suffering.
authors: Department of Economics, Lund University Centre for Health Economics, LUCHE, Lund, Sweden.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Eriksson
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Karlsson
authors: Katarina Steen
authors: KS
authors: Carlsson
authors: Lars B
authors: LB
authors: Dahlin
authors: Hans-Eric
authors: HE
authors: Rosberg
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000191:economics*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D016468:Forestry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult