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. 2019 Apr;54(2):134-139.
doi: 10.1016/j.rbo.2017.12.017. Epub 2019 May 10.

Penetrating Wounds of the Upper Extremity - Prevalence and Etiology

Jaime Piccaro Erazo  1 , Rodrigo Guerra Sabongi  1 , Vinicius Ynoe de Moares  1 , João Baptista Gomes Dos Santos  1 , Flávio Faloppa  2 , João Carlos Belloti  1
Affiliations

Penetrating Wounds of the Upper Extremity - Prevalence and Etiology

Jaime Piccaro Erazo et al. Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo). 2019 Apr.

Abstract

Objective To define the major epidemiological features of upper limb penetrating injuries, as well as to identify the causes and the frequency of these lesions at the Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, a hand surgery center in the city of São Paulo, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods The present study was based on a sample of consecutive patients from our orthopedics and traumatology institute from May 2014 to May 2016. Data were collected by telephone, and a prestructured questionnaire regarding data and features of the lesions was applied. Descriptive statistics and proportions comparison with the chi-squared test were performed with a p -value < 5% considered as statistically significant. Results At first, 1,648 records were considered and, after applying the exclusion criteria and eliminating duplicate records, 598 records were included in the present study. Most of the patients were male (77.8%), right-handed (95.82%), with an average age of 37.27 years old. Manual laborers were the most injured individuals (50.00%), and fingers were the most affected site (51.84%). Glass was the most frequent etiologic agent (33.77%). The prevalence of amputation was higher in industrial machinery injuries ( p < 0.05) when compared with other causes. Younger patients (< 18 years old) had more glass-related injuries, while older patients (≥ 60 years old) had more traumas caused by power tools ( p < 0.05). Women had more injuries resulting from razors and glass ( p < 0.05). Manual laborers had a higher frequency of power tools and industrial machinery-related injuries ( p < 0.05) and a higher prevalence of amputations ( p < 0.05). Conclusion The most frequent etiology was glass, especially in individuals < 18 years old. Women and older patients (> 60 years old) presented a high frequency of traumas caused by razors and power tools, respectively. More severe injuries were caused by machinery and were related with work activity.

Keywords: cross-sectional studies; hand injuries; wounds, penetrating.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflitos de interesse Os autores declaram não haver conflitos de interesse.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Patients selection organizational chart.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Number of cases per age.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Number of lesions per finger in isolated injury cases.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Number of lesions per finger in total injured fingers.
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Organograma da seleção de pacientes.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Número de casos por idade.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Número de ferimentos por dedos em casos de lesão isolada.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Número de ferimentos por dedo no total de dedos feridos.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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