Mind your hand during the energy crunch: Functional Outcome of Circular Saw Hand Injuries

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough injuries due to circular saws are very common all over the world, there is surprisingly little information available about their functional outcomes. As the socioeconomic impact of these injuries is immense and determined by the casualties' disability and impairment, it is the objective of this study to present data on the functional outcome, disability, and impairment of hand injuries due to electric circular saws.MethodsPatients treated from 1999 through 2007 for circular saw-related hand injuries were contacted and asked for clinical follow-up assessment. The clinical follow-up protocol consisted of a physical examination and an assessment of static muscle power (grip and pinch strength). For assessment of the subjective experience of the patients regarding their injury-related disability and impairment, the DASH follow-up questionnaire was used. The occupational impact of these injuries was measured by number of lost working days. Finally, safety-related behaviour of the patients was investigated.Results114 Patients were followed-up on average 52 months after the injury. Average in-house treatment was 8.8 days. Average time lost from work was 14.8 weeks. A significant reduction of static muscle testing parameters compared with the uninjured hand was revealed for grip strength, tip pinch, key pinch, and palmar pinch. Average DASH score was 17.4 (DASH work 15.8, DASH sports/music 17.7). Most patients had more than ten years experience in using these power tools.ConclusionThe everyday occurrence of circular saw-related hand injuries followed by relatively short periods of in-house treatment might distort the real dimension of the patients' remaining disability and impairment. While the trauma surgeon's view is generally confined to the patients' clinical course, the outcome parameters in this follow-up investigation, with loss of working time as the key factor, confirm that the whole socioeconomic burden is much greater than the direct cost of treatment.

Circular saw misuse is related to upper limb injuries: a cross-sectional study

“…The primary costs related to patient care and injury treatment are always coupled with enormous secondary burdens, which include lost wages, job readjustments and permanent disability. The period of rehabilitation must be considered in the analysis of the economic impact of injuries since this may be associated with the most significant loss 3,7,8. A study estimated an average of 64 days off from work after circular saw injuries, with a mean cost of over 30 thousand dollars per injury 9.…”

“…A study estimated an average of 64 days off from work after circular saw injuries, with a mean cost of over 30 thousand dollars per injury 9. In addition, the sequelae of these injuries generate long-lasting functional impairment that affects the patient's quality of life 8,10.…”

Hand injuries in an older population - a retrospective cohort study from a single hand surgery centre

“…Professionals, e.g. carpenters, injure their hands despite years of experience [18]. Traditionally, activities involving various power tools are more common among men, which may explain the present observed difference.…”

“…More men than women sustained injuries from powered wood splitters and circular saws, both of which caused more severe injuries [18–20]. Circular saw injuries occur in both experienced professionals and elderly patients, as recreational work is common also among older adults [18, 19]. Professionals, e.g.…”

Reducing the Risk of Injury from Table Saw Use: The Potential Benefits and Costs of Automatic Protection

“…The most obvious group is the amputations, but also of concern are lacerations that damage the tendon or nerve in a finger or thumb but are not severe enough to cause partial or complete amputation. Tendon and nerve damage in the finger or thumb are difficult to repair surgically without any loss of long‐term function . Productivity losses are known to be particularly large when blade contact causes nerve damage as well as flexor tendon injury …”