Providing care for hand disorders: trauma and elective. The Derby Hand Unit experience (1989-1990).

Data was collected prospectively on all patients from one health district attending the Hand Unit at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary to determine the needs for hand surgery and the resources utilised to meet them. 475 patients per 100,000 population presented with hand injuries and 289 patients per 100,000 with elective hand disorders each year. For every 100,000 population, the trauma cases required 139 inpatient days and 1723 outpatient visits. Elective cases required 221 inpatient days and 1039 outpatient visits.