Audit of Occupational Hand Trauma Presenting in the Accident and Emergency Departments of two Major Hospitals.

Abstract

A study was carried out in 31 patients presenting with occupational hand trauma in Accident and Emergency Departments of two General Hospitals of Lahore. All of the patients were males and 39% of them were below the legal working age (<18 years), 32.26% were illiterate. More than 55% had on training prior to the job and 58% of the patients had to work for more than 8 hours a day. Sixty one percent of the work places lacked arrangements for first aid, protective clothing or fire extinguishers. Seventy five percent of the patients required admission. Right hand was involved in 58% of patients. Radiographs were carried out in 74% of the cases, 65% showed positive findings. Wound toilet was done in 87%. Eleven patients were referred to Orthopaedic and one patients to Plastic Surgery. Post operative infection seen in 22.6% and amputation done in 10% of the patients.