Occupational Hand Injuries Treated at a Tertiary Care Facility in Western Turkey

Abstract

Abstract:The study was designed to investigate characteristics of work-related hand injuries (WRHI) referred to a University hospital emergency department (ED) in an industrialized region as well as to supply data for preventive strategies. All patients with WRHI referred to the University-based ED in the two-year period were investigated. Sociodemographic and injuryrelated clinical information were analyzed. Out of 746 patients who were admitted to the ED due to occupational injuries within the two-year study period, 244 (32.7%) with isolated wrist, hand and finger injuries were included in the study. Male patients constituted the majority 87.2% (n=213) and 57.0% (n=139) of the patients were between 25 and 34 yr of age. WRHI recorded in industries involving metal and machinery constituted 41.4% (n=101) of all injuries. The sites of injuries were not significantly affected by differences in age, social security status and sectors. The most common types of injury were lacerations, punctures, and abrasions (40.2%, n=98). There was a statistically insignificant rise in amputation injuries with increasing age. Incidences, etiologies and characteristics of WRHI should be highlighted and preventive strategies based on these facts be implemented due to higher level of suffering and more serious consequences attributed to this specific injury.

Epidemiology and Sequelae of Workplace Hand Injuries at a Tertiary Trauma Care Centre

“…In comparison the ratio of male subjects is reported as 76% in the US, 69% in the UK, 59% in Denmark and 83% in Turkey. In Netherland and Denmark, hand injuries peak in the age group 10 -14 years, 44% in 10 -19 years in Canada, 35% (under 15 years) in Turkey [5]- [8]. 65% of the victims of industrial injuries in our study were literate (10 years in school and 3 years diploma) in comparison to 41% in the Turkish study [9]- [11].…”

Work-related injuries in textile industry workers in Turkey

“…[2,3] More than 2500 admissions due to occupational injuries are recorded in the health facilities annually in Denizli. [4] Severe injuries and multiple casualties generally tend to be transported with state-run ambulance services (112), while other casualties are handled via the facility's own resources. Around one-third of the patients exposed to work-related injuries (WRI) are referred to the University hospital, which has the most advanced technology in the city.…”

“…Previous studies indicated the most commonly involved digit as the middle finger, followed by the fourth and index fingers, respectively, regardless of the sector. [4,19] This difference between findings may result from the tendency to use the index finger in textile machines, i.e., while feeding the machine with fabric.…”

The Characteristics of Hand Injuries of Workers Occupied in an Industrial Estate

“…Yaralanma günleri açısından yapılan değerlendir-mede Serinken ve arkadaşları tekstil işindeki mesleki yaralanmaları ve Türkiye'nin batısındaki üçüncü basamak sağlık merkezinde tedavi edilen mesleki el yaralanmalarını irdeledikleri çalışmalarında; sırasıy-la %22,5 ve %23,3 oranla, Aksan ve arkadaşları ise %16,7 oranla pazartesi gününü en sık yaralanmanın gerçekleştiği gün olarak belirtilmiştir [8][9][10] . Bizim çalış-mamızda bulduğumuz sonuç da diğer çalışmalar ile uyumludur.…”

“…Serinken ve arkadaşları yaptıkları çalışmada, hastaların %41,4'inin metal makine endüstrisinde ve %16,8'inin ise tekstil işinde çalıştıklarını belirtmişlerdir 9 . Bizim ça-lışmamızda en fazla yaralanan ilk üç meslek grubunu oto sanayi işçisi, kaynakçı ve torna tesviye işinde çalı-şanlar oluşturmaktaydı.…”