Hand problems in an accident and emergency department.

We present a prospective study of 1,074 consecutive hand problems which were presented to our Accident and Emergency Department over an eight week period. This number accounted for 1 in 5 of all accident attendances. Over 40% of these patients were males aged 12-29 years. Nearly half of the hand patients presented within two hours of injury. Over half the patients needed only reassurance or a simple dressing but 55 patients (5%) had to be admitted for surgery.