Epidemiology and ınjury characteristics of children with acute traumatic hand injuries undergoing surgery: a 10-year retrospective cohort study Cerrahi geçiren akut travmatik el yaralanmalı çocukların epidemiyolojisi ve yaralanma özellikleri: 10 yıllık retrospektif bir kohort analiz
Ulusal Travma ve Acil Cerrahi Dergisi, cilt.31, sa.8, ss.729-738, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 31 Sayı: 8
- Basım Tarihi: 2025
- Doi Numarası: 10.14744/tjtes.2025.07892
- Dergi Adı: Ulusal Travma ve Acil Cerrahi Dergisi
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CINAHL, MEDLINE
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.729-738
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Child, epidemiology, hand injuries, surgery
- Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of acute hand injuries requiring surgery in children is not well understood in our country. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological and injury characteristics of surgically treated acute traumatic hand injuries in children, considering different age groups and injury severity, and to offer preventive recommendations. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, descriptive, epidemiological study of surgically treated acute traumatic hand injuries observed between 2004 and 2024 in a tertiary university hospital. The analysis included patients under 18 years old and examined demographics, injury mechanisms, causes, injury characteristics, and severity using the Modified Hand Injury Severity Scale (MHISS). RESULTS: A total of 295 patients were enrolled in the study. Injuries were most common among males and adolescents. The most frequent mechanism of acute hand injury was laceration (78.6%). Accidental falls with glass cups in toddlers and preschool children, street glass shards in schoolchildren, and punching glass in adolescents were the most common causes of lacerations. The Modified Hand Injury Severity Score (MHISS) indicated that most hand injuries were moderate (35.9%). Complex injuries accounted for 39.7% of all cases, and 10.8% of patients required additional surgeries. CONCLUSION: Most injuries happen in boys and usually involve lacerations that affect flexor tendons and major nerves, typically of moderate severity. Toddlers and preschool children should not be given glass cups, and schoolchildren should not be allowed to play outside designated playground areas, as there may be shards of glass in certain areas. Schools, families, and adolescents should be informed about the dangers of punching window glass. Raising parental awareness and educating the community can help reduce the occurrence of these injuries.