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

OBJECTIVES: Machinery injuries account for a substantial share of traumatic upper limb injuries (TULIs) affecting young active individuals. This study is based on the hypothesis that there is an important relationship between the improper use of power saws and TULIs. The aim of the study is to assess the prevalence and epidemiology of TULIs caused by power saws and determine the risks related to power saw use. METHODS: A cross-sectional evaluation of medical records from a two-year period was performed. Patients sustaining TULIs related to power saws were analyzed. Data on the epidemiology, site of injury, mechanism of trauma, technical specifications of the tool, cutting material, personal protective equipment, time lost and return to work were obtained. RESULTS: A database search retrieved 193 TULI records, of which 104 were related to power saws. The majority of patients were male (102/104; 98.1%), right-handed (97/104; 93.3%), and manual workers (46/104; 44.2%), with an average age of 46.8 years. The thumb was the most frequently injured site (32/93; 34.4%). Most of the injuries were caused by manual saws (85/104; 81.7%), and masonry saws accounted for 68.2% (58/85) of the cases. Masonry saws improperly used for woodwork resulted in 86.2% (50/58) of the injuries. TULI caused by masonry saws was 5 times higher in manual workers than in other patients. In addition, masonry saws had a risk of kickback 15 times higher than that of other saws, and the risk of injury increased by 5.25 times when the saws were used improperly for wood cutting. CONCLUSIONS: The profile of TULIs related to power saws was demonstrated and was mainly associated with manual saws operated by manual workers that inappropriately used masonry saws for woodworking.

Epidemiology and patterns of the hand and distal forearm fractures at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Riyadh, KSA

Objectives: The hand is the most commonly fractured site in the body, as it represents 17-25% of all body fractures. The metacarpal bone of the small finger is the most commonly fractured hand bone. This study aimed to determine the epidemiology and frequency of various fractures of the hand and the distal forearm in adults with a view to identifying patients who required surgical treatment

Methods: This retrospective review examined the medical records of all hand and distal forearm X-rays performed on adult patients who presented to the emergency room of King Abdul-Aziz Medical City from January 2010 to December 2011

Results: In this study, we reviewed 2993 X-rays of the hand and the distal forearm. One-third of these X-rays confirmed fractures [n = 948], and more than two-thirds of these fractures were recorded in male patients [n = 702]. There was no major difference in the distribution of fractures between the left and right hand. Half of these fractures [n = 472] were found in the young age group [18-30 years]. The study showed that the phalanges had the highest proportion of fractures [n = 362, 40%]. Distal forearm fractures represented one-third of all registered fractures [n = 287]. Almost half of the metacarpal fractures were found in the 5th metacarpal [n = 104], confirming that the 5th metacarpal bone is the most commonly fractured bone in the hand. One-fifth of all fractures were surgically managed [n = 190, 20%]

Conclusion: One-third of the reviewed X-rays identified hand and distal forearm fractures. Both hands were affected equally. Patients in the young age group are more prone to have fractures, and phalanges had the highest proportion of fractures followed by the distal forearm

Perfil dos pacientes com lesões traumáticas do membro superior atendidos pela fisioterapia em hospital do nível terciário / Profile of patients with traumatic injuries of the upper limb treated in a tertiary hospital

A incidência de lesões traumáticas dos membros superiores em um hospital terciário além de ser elevada, possui uma grande variedade. Neste sentido torna-se importante a criação de um banco de dados único, para conhecer o perfil dos pacientes atendidos. Objetivo: traçar o perfil dos pacientes com lesões traumáticas dos membros superiores, atendidos pela Fisioterapia no Centro de Reabilitação do Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão. Método: foram avaliadas 223 fichas de pacientes (58 mulheres e 116 homens), com idade média de 34,54 (± 19,05) anos, encaminhados pelo ambulatório de ortopedia do referido hospital. Resultados: do total de casos analisados, as lesões de punho e mão obtiveram maior incidência (60,99%), seguidos por lesões de ombro (20,63%), cotovelo (12,55%), braço (3,59%) e antebraço (2,24%). Nas lesões de punho e mão o mecanismo de trauma com maior porcentagem foi o acidente de moto, relacionado com as fraturas múltiplas de ossos da mão. Queda da própria altura, acidente motociclístico e queda de escada foram os mecanismos de trauma, correlacionando com as fraturas de úmero proximal, luxação de ombro e fraturas de escápula respectivamente. Conclusão: Foi verificada a incidência de lesão, mecanismo de trauma e as características da população para futuramente aprimorar os protocolos específicos para as disfunções e investir em campanhas de prevenção.

The incidence of traumatic injuries of the upper limbs in a tertiary hospital has a wide variety. This is why the creation of a unified database becomes important-to know the patients’ profile. Objective: this study sought to determine the profile of patients with traumatic injuries of the upper limbs, treated by Physical Therapy in Rehabilitation Center of the Clinics Hospital of Ribeirão Preto. Method: Two hundred and twenty-three patient records were evaluated (58 women and 116 men). They had an average age of 34.54 (± 19.05) years and were referred by the orthopedic clinic of this hospital. Results: of the cases studied, wrist and hand injuries had the highest incidence (60.99%), followed by injuries of the shoulder (20.63%), elbow (12.55%), arm (3.59%) and forearm (2.24%). In injuries of wrist and hand, the trauma mechanism with the highest percentage was the motorcycle accident, associated with multiple handbone fractures. Falling down, motorcycle accidents, and falling off a ladder were the mechanisms of injury correlated with proximal humerus fractures, shoulder dislocations, and broken scapulas, respectively. Conclusion: the incidence of injury, trauma mechanism, and characteristics of the population was verified and further improvements in protocols for specific disorders and prevention can be made.