title: Characteristics of Fingertip Injuries in Children in Singapore.
abstract: Fingertip injuries are common in children, with varying degrees of severity. However, there is limited epidemiological information in the literature. An understanding of the characteristics of these injuries can be used as a basis to prevent such injuries. Epidemiological data was gathered through a retrospective review of all fingertip injuries affecting children, that presented to our department. There were 202 children with 234 injured fingertips in a period of 36 months. Most children were boys and most children injured their left hand. The mode age affected was 2 years. Accidental crush injuries in doors was the most common cause of fingertip injuries in children. An unexpectedly high number of children have fingertip injuries, with many requiring surgical treatment. Safety awareness and prevention of door crush injuries could reduce a large number of fingertip injuries in young children.
authors.affiliation: * Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Mala
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satku
authors.affiliation: † Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Mark Edward
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Puhaindran
authors.affiliation: ‡ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Alphonsus Khin Sze
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Chong
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices
keywords: Children; Crush Injury; Door injury; Epidemiology; Fingertip injuries