Jonathan Weinerman , Alina Syros , Nikhil Patel , Jacob Mesenger , Dylan Luxenburg , Arya Minaie , Max Baron , Helen G. Hui-Chou
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose
Firework-related injuries can have devastating consequences, often resulting in permanent damage or amputation, with incidence rising in recent years. This study characterizes firework-related hand injuries treated at a Level 1 Trauma Center over a 10-year period, analyzing demographics, injury patterns, outcomes, and trends.
Methods
The medical records of patients treated at a Level I trauma center for firework-related hand injuries between January 2013 and January 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Variables analyzed included patient demographics, injury characteristics, hospital course, treatment details, and socioeconomic factors.
Results
The study included 33 male and 2 female patients aged 9–74 years (mean age 31 years). Injuries occurred in 88.6 % of cases due to patients holding fireworks, often in their dominant hand (42.9 %). Fractures occurred in 77.1 % of cases, traumatic amputations in 34.3 %, vascular injuries in 45.7 %, and nerve injuries in 48.6 %. Surgery was required in 82.9 % of patients, with irrigation and debridement (74.3 %) and revision amputation (60 %) being the most common procedures. The average length of hospitalization was 4.64 days, and many patients resided in lower-income areas, with 62.8 % from zip codes reporting an annual household income below $60,000.
Conclusion
Firework-related hand injuries impose significant physical and socioeconomic burdens, with most patients requiring surgery for fractures, suffering vascular or nerve damage, or undergoing traumatic or surgical amputation. Young adult males from lower-income, socially vulnerable areas were most affected. Future prevention efforts should focus on public health and legislative initiatives to reduce these injuries.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Orthopaedics aims to be a leading journal in orthopaedics and contribute towards the improvement of quality of orthopedic health care. The journal publishes original research work and review articles related to different aspects of orthopaedics including Arthroplasty, Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, Trauma, Spine and Spinal deformities, Pediatric orthopaedics, limb reconstruction procedures, hand surgery, and orthopaedic oncology. It also publishes articles on continuing education, health-related information, case reports and letters to the editor. It is requested to note that the journal has an international readership and all submissions should be aimed at specifying something about the setting in which the work was conducted. Authors must also provide any specific reasons for the research and also provide an elaborate description of the results.