Hand Injuries in a Suburban Hospital Bayelsa State Nigeria

Aims: To determine the etiology and pattern of presentation of patient with hand injury in a semi-urban center in Bayelsa State Nigeria.

Study Design: This is a retrospective study in which all the case notes of patients who had hand injury at Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri Bayelsa State Nigeria from January 2014 to December 2015 were retrieved and analyzed.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri Bayelsa State Nigeria from January 2014 to December 2015.

Methodology: Case Notes of patients who had hand injuries at Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri Bayelsa State Nigeria between the period of study were retrieved and analyzed for age, sex, mechanism of injury, time of injury and presentation to the clinic, and treatment given. Diabetic patients who had hand injury following injections and patients with incomplete data were excluded from the study. The data obtained was then analyzed using the SPSS Version 20 for windows.

Permission for this study was obtained from the ethical committee of the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital.

Results: The highest incidence, 56 (36.6%) of hand injuries occurred in the 20 to 30 age range. Majority 48(31.37%) of the patients were students. Road traffic accident (RTA), 37(24.18%) was the commonest cause of hand injuries and this was statistically significant [χ2 (p-value) = 120.77 (0.001)]. The most common injury to hand was laceration 57 (37.25%). Pain, swelling, limitation of movement and infection to the traumatized hand were the common presentations respectively, 153 (100.0%); 120 (78.4%), 80 (52.29%) and 56 (36.60%).

Conclusion: Road Traffic Accident (RTA) remains the major cause of hand injury affecting more males and manual workers in the productive age group. Delayed presentation is often associated with devastating complications.