[Hand injury in polytrauma].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate forearm and hand injuries in multitrauma patients and to compare this group of patients to the overall multitrauma population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Out of a prospectively gathered polytrauma data base a retrospective analysis, including demographics, injury severity, injury pattern and treatment of forearm and hand injuries was performed.
RESULTS: Out of 386 patients (G) that had been entered in our polytrauma data base, 26 had forearm and hand injuries (H). The mean age of group (H) was 36.4 years (G: 40.3 years, p = 0.220), the mean ISS of this population was 28,3 (G: 34.5, p = 0.003). Mostly fractures of the radius (50.0%), the metacarpus (53.8%) and the carpus (50.0%) were diagnosed. Surgical interventions of hand- and forearm injuries were done in 15 cases within 24 hours, 4 patients were treated after 24 hours.
CONCLUSION: Multiple trauma patients with hand- and forearm injuries showed a statistically significant decreased injury severity and were younger compared to the overall multitrauma population.