Detailed analysis of surgically treated hand trauma patients in a regional German trauma centre.

Abstract

Hand and forearm injuries are the most frequent reason for consultations in German emergency departments. Therefore, full recovery has a high social and economic relevance. In this study, data on surgically treated hand injuries in a regional German trauma centre between 01.01.2019 and 31.01.2021 were collected using the new German HandTraumaRegister of the German Society for Hand Surgery. These data were retrospectively analysed and correlated with mobility data of the Bavarian population, the 7-day incidence of Covid-19 infections in Germany and the number of elective hand surgeries. We found that a fall from standing height with consecutive distal radius fracture was the most common injury in women, whereas mechanism of injury and diagnosis were more diverse in men. The populations' mobility correlated well with the number of accidents, which in turn was reciprocal to the 7-day-incidence of Covid-19 infections. The number of elective hand surgeries expectedly dropped significantly during the state-imposed lockdowns. Knowing that mainly young men and elderly women suffer from hand injuries, tailored prevention measures may be elaborated. In order to reduce socioeconomic burden, care for hand injuries and elective hand surgeries must be guaranteed according to the frequency of their occurrence.