Article

Hand injuries contribute a considerable workload for any individual accident and
emergency department. Not many studies are found in the Indian literature as far
as the epidemiology of hand fractures is concerned.
A prospective survey of the
medical charts of all 10,977 patients attending the accident and emergency
department of the Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, from August 1, 2004, to July
31, 2006 was performed.
Of these, 2,836 sustained one or more fractures, and hand
fractures accounted for 5.4% of all fractures. This study compared the prevalence
of hand fractures with that of all fractures and investigated whether there was a
seasonal variation in their prevalence. The incidence of all the fractures (of
upper and lower limbs) increased during the rainy season (from May to August),
but the distribution of hand fractures remained relatively constant throughout
the year. Among carpal bones, scaphoid was the most common injured carpal bone.
Only 6% of patients with hand fractures required admission. Hand fractures are
common and have a substantial impact on national health care, and it is essential
to estimate the frequency and describe the demographics of patients with this condition.

Langue : ANGLAIS