Explosion injuries of the hand. Spatial relationship and injury pattern.

Twenty-six hands in 25 male patients were treated for peace-time explosion injuries of the palmar aspect. All patients were examined after a mean interval of 7 (1-17) years. In order to establish a regional pattern for each injury the palmar surface of the hand was divided in 21 fields. For each field a score depending on the extent of injury was calculated. Comparing this regional score with the spatial relation between hand and exploding object resulted in six typical patterns depending on the grip during explosion. With knowledge of the three-dimensional relation between the hand and exploding object, the hand surgeon is prepared for potential problems during operation.