RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to describe factors of possible importance for the occurrence of hand injury from powered wood splitters. PATIENTS: Patients were identified by a computerized patient registry. Information was obtained from hospital records, a written questionnaire and a structured telephone interview. RESULTS: Very few splitters were constructed according to European standards. Twenty-one percent of patients injured with wedge splitters thought that having more than one person at the machine was one cause of the accident. Seventy-nine percent of patients injured with screw splitters stated that glove use was one cause of the accident. CONCLUSIONS: The level of safety in wood splitters that cause hand injury is often poor. Having more than one person at the machine during work may contribute to wedge splitter injury. Glove use commonly contributes to screw splitter injury. Prevention should be directed towards unsafe machines and dangerous patterns of use.
Assuntos
Acidentes , Traumatismos da Mão/etiologia , Madeira , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Luvas Protetoras , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Gestão da Segurança/métodos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
We describe the types of hand injury sustained from powered wood splitters. Information about all patients with such injuries treated at the Department of Hand Surgery, University Hospital, Uppsala, during the period 1995-2001 was collected from their records, and from written questionnaires and telephone interviews. Fourteen of the 131 patients found were below the age of 15. There was no change in the annual injury rate for inpatients. Wedge splitters caused 82% and screw splitters 18% of all injuries. The part of the hand most often injured by screw splitters was the metacarpus and by wedge splitters the index finger. Screw splitters caused palmar perforation, avulsion of the thumb, and shredding injuries. Traumatic amputation and devascularising injuries were also common. Hand injury from powered wood splitters is an important and continuing problem. Most injuries are caused by wedge splitters, injuries caused by screw splitters differ from those caused by wedge splitters. Preventive measures are needed and should include keeping children away from splitters. Further research to facilitate prevention is warranted.
Assuntos
Amputação Traumática/patologia , Traumatismos da Mão/patologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Amputação Traumática/etiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Traumatismos da Mão/etiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Our aim was to rate the severity of injuries to hands by powered wood splitters. The patients were identified from a computerised registry, and the cause of injury was confirmed by written questionnaire and structured telephone interview. Information about the anatomy of the injury was gathered from patients' records and radiographs. Severity of injury was rated according to the Hand Injury Severity Scoring System (HISS system) and the Injury Severity Score (ISS). The reliability of HISS rating was tested. The mean Hand Injury Severity Score (HISS) was 63 and the mean ISS was 3.7. Twenty-five (19%) of patients had minor, 41 (31%) had moderate, 30 (23%) had severe, and 35 (27 %) had major injuries when scored by the HISS system. Children's injuries were more severe than those of adults. There was no difference in severity between injuries made by wedge and screw splitters. It is not possible to avoid serious hand injuries from powered wood splitters completely by prohibiting one of the two main types of splitter.