[Hand injuries in adolescents].

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Based on the materials of 134 adolescent patients (age 15-19) with hand injuries treated in the II Department of Surgery of the Jagiellonian University between 1987-2000 results of treatment were described. The adolescents constituted 11.8% of all patients treated due to hand injuries.

RESULTS

Home was the most common place of the accident (59 patients - 44.01%), and the most common mechanism of injury was cutting by the glass or another sharp tool (61 patients - 45.52%). The mild and moderate injuries predominated (112 patients - 83.58%). 39 patients (29.10%) were treated after alcohol abuse; unfortunately. 35 patients (26.12%) were hospitalized from 1 to 24 days (av. 7.14 days). Time to obtain complete recovery reached max. 270 days but av. 55.56 days. Various degree of the persistent limitation of the hand function were observed in 65 patients (48.5%). Two of them (1.49%) got the disability pension and 8 (5.77%) had to change former job and activities.

CONCLUSION

The time of the complete cure could be shorter and the extent of persistent post-traumatic impairment of the patients with the heavy hand injuries could be limited if they would be treated in the specialized centers for hand surgery.