A PROFILE OF SPORTS HAND INJURIES IN AN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Objective--To establish a profile of sports hand injuries requiring tr eatment in an urban accident and emergency (A&E) department, and to de termine the extent to which these injuries resulted in morbidity. Meth ods--A one year prospective observational study at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne. All patients presenting to the A&E dep artment between 29 July 1995 and 28 July 1996 with a hand injury susta ined during sporting activity and who received follow up by A&E or pla stic surgery units were enrolled. Patients were contacted by telephone or post at median of four months after injury (range two to 13) for t heir assessment of the outcome. Results--262 cases were enrolled into the study. The median age for males was 21 years (range 7 to 55) and f or females 16 (range 9 to 40). Follow up data were obtained by telepho ne in 206 (79%), and by letter in a further 26 (10%). Fractures were t he commonest injury (68%), followed by soft tissue injuries (20%) and dislocations (11%). The thumb was the site affected most commonly over all, and in 10 of 17 ski related injuries; next most frequent sites we re little and ring fingers. Males sustained 79% of the injuries, and 5 4% of these occurred during football. Netball/basketball caused 63% of female injuries. Follow up indicated that mild impairment in terms of pain, stiffness, or deformity was common (45%), while the Emergency i ncidence of moderate pain or serious Department, problems was 11%. Con clusions-Sporting injuries to the hand commonly require treatment in t he A&E department. Telephone/postal follow up of such injuries indicat es that significant short term and longer term impairment of function may result. Suitable target areas for injury prevention are secondary schools, football (in males), and netball/basketball.