[Accidental circular saw injuries].

Two hundred twenty-six accident reports and medical statements concerning circular-saw injuries were evaluated. All injuries occurred on hands. Left and right hands were hurt share and share alike. Among the 125 isolated one-finger injuries an obvious stepwise decrease in frequency from thumb to little finger and from fingertip to finger basis was found. The more proximal the wound lay, the more frequent a localization diagonal or parallel to finger axis was registered. Most accidents hurt skin or soft tissue. Bone lesions occurred less frequent and were characterized by splinters or fractures instead of cuts. Subtotal or total amputations were described in some cases. All lay on fingertips. Nearly the same was seen in two-finger cases. Among three- to five-finger injuries (often diagonal) a few cases of total amputation at the base phalanx were described. The severeness of injuries increases with the number of fingers hurt. A complete cut-like sharp-edged amputation was never seen in the material presented.