Comprehensive analysis of power tool injuries: implications for safety and injury prevention.

BACKGROUND: Power tools are essential for productivity but carry significant injury risks. Addressing power tool injuries across diverse age groups is vital, as existing research predominantly focuses on specific occupational or non-occupational groups, leaving a gap in understanding various age cohorts within the diverse American population. This study aims to comprehend power tool injury epidemiology, raising awareness about the importance of targeted safety measures for enhancing public health. METHODS: Using a ten-year retrospective approach, this study analyzed National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data from US hospital emergency departments (2013-2022). Demographic and temporal trends were examined, and associations between injury occurrence and categorical variables, including injured body parts, gender, and race, were explored. RESULTS: In 2013, power tool injuries were highest in the "51-60″ age group (23.70 %), followed by "41-50″ (17.31 %) and "61-70″ (19.38 %). Injury rates varied across age groups over the years. Notably, the "41-50″ age group showed a significant decrease in injuries over time (χ² = 17.12, p < .05), indicating a notable temporal trend. Hand injuries were predominant (39.08 %), followed by finger (19.19 %), lower arm (11.25 %), upper arm (8.79 %), and face (4.04 %). Lacerations constituted the most frequent injury type (60.89 %), alongside fractures, amputations, foreign body insertions, and contusions/abrasions. Significant associations emerged between injury occurrence and gender (χ² = 6.19, p < .001), as well as race (χ² = 7.42, p < .001). Males accounted for the majority of injuries (95.97 %), while white individuals constituted the largest proportion (91.84 %). Females and domestic settings exhibited increasing proportions of power tool injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The higher incidence among middle-aged individuals in domestic settings, coupled with evolving gender dynamics, underscores the need for targeted safety measures. Our findings contribute crucial novel insights, emphasizing tailored preventive strategies to enhance safety outcomes in the multifaceted landscape of power tool use.

[Hand accident prevention]. / Prévention des accidents de la main.

HAND ACCIDENT PREVENTION. Advances in surgical techniques and a better organization with SOS mains structures have improved the management of hand injuries. However, there are still too many accidents, which can lead to functional and aesthetic after-effects, as well as their socio-professional consequences. The prevention of hand injuries is therefore mandatory. It is organized with three levels: primary prevention, that aims to prevent the occurrence of the accident itself; secondary prevention, to guide and provide the best emergency care for the patient; and tertiary prevention, to avoid deprofessionalization and provide support for any physical and psychological after-effects.

PREVENTION DES ACCIDENTS DE LA MAIN. Les progrès des techniques chirurgicales et l'organisation en services SOS mains ont contribué à améliorer la prise en charge des accidents de la main. Ceux-ci restent cependant nombreux et peuvent entraîner des séquelles fonctionnelles, esthétiques et avoir des conséquences socioprofessionnelles. La prévention des accidents de la main est donc fondamentale. Elle s'organise en trois volets : la prévention primaire pour éviter la survenue de l'accident, la prévention secondaire pour orienter et prendre en charge au mieux le patient, et la prévention tertiaire afin d'éviter une déprofessionnalisation et accompagner les séquelles physiques et psychologiques éventuelles.

HOW TO PREVENT HAND INJURIES - REVIEW OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA IS THE FIRST STEP IN HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT.

BACKGROUND: Hand injuries are common affecting all ages, genders, and geographic regions. They can result in long term disability and mortality, while they place a significant financial burden in society. Although, hand injuries can be prevented. Preventive strategies can be designed, but knowledge of injuries' epidemiological characteristics is required beforehand. METHODS: We performed a review of the current literature related to hand injuries to identify their incidence, patients' demographics, type, mode, and time of the injury. RESULTS: Hand injuries constitute 6.6% to 28.6% of all injuries presenting to the Emergency Department and 28% of injuries to the musculoskeletal system. They mainly affect young male labourers. Occupational and home accidents are the commonest injury modalities, while traffic road accidents constitute a significant reason for hand injuries as well. Lacerations account for most hand injuries, followed by crush injuries, fractures and amputations. Most occupational injuries occur in the beginning of the week and especially during the morning shift, while there has been identified an increase in the number of hand injuries during the summer months. CONCLUSIONS: Hand injuries are an important health problem with impact on patient's life and on the society. Although they can be prevented. Preventive strategies need to be addressed towards many directions and people's activities, since prevention will have an important impact on people's quality of life and society's well-being.

Evaluation of Circular Saw Injuries in a Reference Center in Microsurgery and Reimplantation / Avaliação de lesões por serra circular em um centro de referência em microcirurgia e reimplantes

Abstract Objective To evaluate the epidemiologic profile, the time until care, and the type of conduct taken regarding patients who are victims of accidents with circular saws and their resulting injuries, and to make a comparison with the literature. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study reviewing the medical records of patients cared for from April to December 2018, analyzing age, gender, injured side, affected fingers, month and time of the accident, type of injuries, procedures performed in the emergency room, time elapsed between trauma and admission to the operating room, and reapproach during hospitalization. Results A total of 54 male patients aged between 15 and 72 years were care for. The left side was more affected, and the most frequent type of lesion involved the thumb, which had to be amputated in many cases. In total, 23 patients underwent reimplantation, 3 of which were macroreimplantations. Regarding the time of trauma, 26 cases occurred between noon and 4 p.m., and the time elapsed between the accident and the admission to the operating room was ≥ 6 hours in 84% of the patients. Conclusion Circular saw lesions are predominantly severe, with a potential for leaving permanent sequelae, and they affect mainly the thumb. The characterization of the type of injury and the initial care conditions obtained in the present study may contribute to the policy of prevention and care of patients who are victims of circular saw injuries. Level of Evidence IV; Case Series.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar o perfil epidemiológico, o tempo até o atendimento, e o tipo de conduta tomada em pacientes vítimas de acidentes com serra circular e lesões decorrentes, e fazer uma comparação com a literatura. Métodos Estudo descritivo transversal, com revisão do prontuário de pacientes atendidos de abril a dezembro de 2018, analisando idade, sexo, lado lesado, dedos acometidos, mês e horário do acidente, tipo de lesões, procedimentos realizados na urgência, tempo decorrido entre o trauma e entrada em sala cirúrgica, e reabordagem durante a internação. Resultados Foram atendidos 54 pacientes do sexo masculino com idade entre 15 e 72 anos. O lado esquerdo foi o mais acometido, e o tipo de lesão mais frequente, a amputação, envolvendo principalmente o polegar. No total, 23 pacientes foram submetidos a reimplante, e, entre eles, 3 macrorreimplantes. Quanto ao horário do trauma, 26 ocorreram entre 12h e 16h, e o tempo decorrido entre o acidente e a entrada em sala cirúrgica foi ≥ 6 horas em 84% dos pacientes. Conclusão As lesões por serra circular são predominantemente graves, com potencial de deixar sequelas permanentes, e acometem principalmente o polegar. A caracterização do tipo de lesão e as condições de atendimento inicial obtidas neste trabalho poderão ajudar na política de prevenção e atendimento a pacientes vítimas de ferimentos por serra circular. Nível de Evidência IV; Série de Casos.

Navigating the Intersection of Evidence and Policy in Hand Surgery Practice.

Collaboration with organizations beyond the clinical setting is necessary to identify safety hazards that contribute to the high incidence and severity of hand conditions. Hand surgeons are acutely aware of obstacles patients face while navigating the health care system. Advocacy efforts encourage the development of equitable insurance policies and improve health resource allocation so that hand surgeons can treat a larger patient population. Participation in quality initiatives supports the development of evidence-based clinical guidelines. Further evidence must be generated to ensure that surgeons remain proficient in the latest techniques and uphold high standards of care as hand surgery procedures evolve.

Do surgeons use double gloves during surgery? Results of a survey.

<b>Introduction:</b> The perforation of gloves during surgical procedures is quite common. A cheap and quite effective method of reducing the risk of blood-borne infections is wearing two pairs of gloves. Unfortunately, some surgeons are reluctant to it, and they report decreased dexterity and sensation. The aim of the study was to evaluate surgeons' double-gloving practices to determine the factors related to compliance. <br><b>Material and methods:</b> An anonymous, 21-question survey in Polish was sent by post to 41 surgical departments. The questions concerned: demographic data, type of surgical gloves used, allergy to latex, number of surgeries performed, frequency of using double gloves and negative impressions from using them and finally, the frequency of needlestick injuries during surgical procedures. <br><b>Results:</b> We received 179 questionnaires back. More than 62% of the surgeons believe that double gloves provide better protection than a single pair, 24% do not believe in this, and 14% have no opinion. Only 0.6% of respondents always use double gloves during surgery, 19% double glove in at least 25% of cases and 68% do it occasionally. 13% of the surgeons declared that they had never worn double gloves. During high-risk procedures, 86% of respondents wear double gloves. About half of respondents (50.3%) report discomfort while wearing double gloves; 45% - decreased dexterity; about 30% complain of numbness and tingling; and 64% - decreased sensation. <br><b>Conclusion:</b> Due to the high number of surgical glove perforations and relatively high prevalence of needlestick injuries, it is necessary to use methods that reduce the risk of transmission of pathogens. The habit of using a double pair of gloves should be implemented especially among young surgeons starting to train in their specialities. Consequently, the period of initial discomfort will be combined with the acquisition of surgical skills, which will allow for gradual acclimatization.

Perforation rates in double latex gloves and protective effects of outer work gloves in a postmortem examination room: A STROBE-compliant study.

Medical staff face the risk of exposure to blood-borne infectious agents during postmortem examinations. This study investigated the effectiveness of non-slip work gloves worn over 2 layers of surgical latex gloves (outer and inner gloves) as a means of reducing hand and finger injuries. Complete sets of outer and inner gloves worn during postmortem examinations were collected from participating forensic staff. Latex gloves were categorized into 2 groups based on the users' actions during the examination: the wearing group if the wearer wore their work gloves continuously without interruption, and the taking-off group if the wearer removed them at least once. Perforation rates, locations, and shapes were compared between these groups. Outer-glove perforation occurred significantly more often in the taking-off group (n = 102 pairs) than in the wearing group (n = 91 pairs) (30.4% vs 3.8%, P < .001). Inner-glove perforation occurred at rates of 2.0% and 0.5% (P = .38), respectively. The wearers did not incur hand or finger injuries. Perforation rates were similar between the dominant and non-dominant hands (P = .18). Regarding location, gloves were punctured most frequently at the thumb, followed by the index finger. Most examiners (85.6%) did not notice the perforation when the damage occurred. Therefore, we could not confirm that a specific operation within a set of plural operations affected the rate of perforation. Additionally, we could not prove a relationship between glove perforation and each operation performed with/without work gloves. The perforation appearances varied greatly in shape and size, suggesting multiple causes of perforation. The continuous (i.e., uninterrupted) wear of work gloves during postmortem examinations reduced the incidence of perforations in both latex glove layers and thus reduced the risk of hand and finger injury.

Hand injuries in low- and middle-income countries: systematic review of existing literature and call for greater attention.

OBJECTIVES: Hand injuries result in major healthcare costs from lack of productivity and disability. With rapid industrialization, the incidence of hand injuries is expected to rise in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, estimates of burden and validated outcome tools are needed for effective resource allocation in the management of these injuries. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the burden of hand injuries in LMICs according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, PAIS International, African Index Medicus, Global Health, IMMEMR, IMSEAR, Wholis and Bdenf, Lilacs, Scielo, WPRIM, and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform to detect eligible articles with no restrictions on length of follow-up, type of hand injury, or date. RESULTS: We included 17 articles after screening 933 eligible articles based on title, abstract, and full-text screening. There was significant heterogeneity and low quality of evidence. All included articles suggest that hand injuries were associated with work limitations for the majority of patients, and residual pain can further limit their activities. Direct and indirect costs related to treatment account for a major healthcare burden with limited evidence on estimates of long-term cost from disability. CONCLUSIONS: The present systematic review highlights the paucity of high-quality data on the epidemiology, management, and burden of hand injuries in LMICs. The data are heterogeneous, and comprehensive metrics are lacking. Because hand injuries can account for a significant proportion of injury-related disability, reducing the overall burden of hand injuries is of utmost importance.

The epidemiology of acute occupational hand injuries treated in emergency departments in Foshan City, South China.

BACKGROUND: Despite the magnitude of occupational hand injuries, there are no authoritative guidelines for hand injury prevention, and little research has been done to investigate the epidemiology of acute occupational hand injuries in South China or other developing areas. In this study, the epidemiology of acute occupational hand injuries treated in emergency departments (EDs) in Foshan City, South China, was examined and data were supplied to assist with preventive strategies in similar developing regions. METHODS: A multicenter study was prospectively designed and conducted in 5 large hospital EDs in Foshan City from July 2010 to June 2011. An anonymous questionnaire was designed specifically to collect the data for this study. RESULTS: A total of 2142 patients with acute occupational hand injury completed the questionnaire within the 1-year study period. Results indicated that most occupational hand injuries were caused by machinery. Hand injury type and site of the injury did not correspond to age, but were related to gender and job category. July and August 2010 were the peak periods of admission to EDs, while January and February 2010 were the trough periods. CONCLUSION: Epidemiological data enhance our knowledge of acute occupational hand injuries and could play a role in the prevention and treatment of future occupational hand injuries.

Occupational hand injuries: a current review of the prevalence and proposed prevention strategies for physical therapists and similar healthcare professionals.

Hand injury is the second most common work-related musculoskeletal injury among physical therapists (PTs) and other manual therapy professionals such as osteopaths, physiotherapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists. However, the nature and extent of this problem have not been fully explored yet. Therefore, the objective of this study was to review the existing literature published on the prevalence, risk factors, consequences, and prevention of hand injuries among PTs and similar healthcare professionals. The lifetime prevalence of hand injuries was about 15%-46%, and the annual prevalence was reported as 5%-30%. Thumb injuries were found to be the most prevalent of all injuries, accounting more than 50% of all hand-related problems. The most significant risk factors for job-related hand injuries were performing manual therapy techniques, repetitive workloads, treating many patients per day, continued work while injured or hurt, weakness of the thumb muscles, thumb hypermobility, and instability at the thumb joints. PTs reported modifying treatment technique, taking time off on sick leave, seeking intervention, shifting the specialty area, and decreasing patient contact hours as the major consequences of these injuries. The authors recommend that PTs should develop specific preventive strategies and put more emphasis on the use of aids and equipment to reduce the risk of an unnecessary injury.

The fastest field sport in the world: A case report on 3-dimensional printed hurling gloves to help prevent injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series. INTRODUCTION: Hand injuries are the most common injury observed in hurling although compliance in wearing protective gloves is reportedly low. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To devise a glove that offers comfort, protection and freedom of movement, using the bespoke capabilities of 3-dimensional (3D) printing. METHODS: Each player's "catching" hand was imaged using a 3D scanner to produce a bespoke glove that they later trialed and provided feedback. RESULTS: Nine players provided feedback. On average, the players favorably rated the glove for the protection offered. The average response on comfort was poor, and no players reported that glove aided performance during play. DISCUSSION: This feasibility study explores the versatility of 3D printing as a potential avenue to improve player compliance in wearing protective sportswear. Feedback will help refine glove design for future prototypes. CONCLUSIONS: Hurling is the primary focus in this study, but knowledge gains should be transferable to other sports that have a high incidence of hand injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

[Injury to the upper limbs and prevention in equestrian sports]. / Verletzungen der oberen Extremität und Prävention im Reitsport.

The upper limb is one of the most frequently injured body regions in equestrian sports, but it is unclear which injuries are involved, and there are no data on the associated accident mechanism. The present study is aimed at evaluating the accident mechanisms, injuries of the upper limbs, and the circumstances of the accident in equestrian sports. We included 218 patients who were all treated between 2006 and 2014 at the level I trauma center at the Medical University in Hannover because of equestrian-related accidents. The most frequent injuries were fractures and bruising in the shoulder area, fingers and hands, and the distal area of the lower arm, which were mostly caused by the horse kicking. To prevent hand injuries it is recommended that gloves are worn; the potential introduction of strengthened materials could protect the bones from severe bumping. Training in falling techniques to prevent serious injury to the upper limb would be useful. In general, primary prevention in equestrian sports should be extended to counteract the increasing neglect of protective equipment.

Pirotecnia: lesiones graves de mano asociadas a explosión de un tipo de dispositivo (megapetardo/superbomba) / Pyrotechnics: severe hand lesions associated to the explosion of a certain device (megafirecrackers/superbombs)

Resumen Introducción: el uso de fuegos artificiales y dispositivos de pirotecnia forma parte de celebraciones y espectáculos públicos en todo el mundo. En Uruguay, su uso se encuentra concentrado en los meses estivales en eventos públicos y privados. Hay normativas para su uso, la importación y venta está regulada. En el verano de 2014-2015 hubo cuatro niños con lesiones graves de mano producidas por explosivos. Todas en circunstancias similares, compartieron el mismo mecanismo lesional y vinculados a un único dispositivo. En el año 2016 hubo más niños con iguales injurias. Objetivo: comunicar una serie de niños con injurias provocadas por un tipo de explosivo de pirotecnia con un patrón diferente al conocido previamente. Resultados: n=6. Todos varones, cinco adolescentes. Los seis presentaron lesiones severas en manos con amputación de uno o varios dedos, determinando secuelas estéticas y funcionales. Discusión: se identifica los dispositivos con alto contenido en pólvora y el mal uso de los mismos como factores asociados a las lesiones graves de mano. Se realizó una campaña desde la Sociedad Uruguaya de Pediatría, el Departamento de Emergencia Pediátrica, el Ministerio de Salud y otras autoridades para abordar este problema. Se prohíbe la venta de ese dispositivo. Conclusiones: la utilización de dispositivos de pirotecnia con alto contenido de pólvora como el megapetardo o superbomba puede determinar lesiones graves de mano, mutilantes y secuelas permanentes. No se recomienda la manipulación de fuegos artificiales por parte de los niños. El cumplimiento de las normativas vigentes y el correcto uso de los mismos podrían contribuir a disminuir estas injurias.

Summary Introduction: the use of fireworks and pyrotechnic devices are ways of public entertainment and celebration around the world. In Uruguay, they are more frequently used during summer-time in public and private events. Usage, import and sales are regulated by law. In summer 2014-2015 four children presented severe hand injuries caused by blasts, all of which occurred under similar conditions, shared the same injury mechanism and were linked to a specific device. In 2016 there were more children with similar lesions. Objective: to report a series of children with hand lesions caused by a certain type of pyrotechnic device with a pattern that was different from the one previously known. Results: n=6. All of them males 5 adolescents. The 6 children studied presented severe lesions in hands with amputation of 1 or several fingers, which resulted in aesthetic and functional sequelae. Discussion: devices with a high dose of gunpowder and their incorrect use are identified as factors associated to severe lesions. The Uruguayan Society of Pediatrics, the Pediatrics Emergency Department and the Ministry of Health, among other authorities, conducted a campaign to address this issue. The sale of this device is prohibited. Conclusions: the use of pyrotechnic devices with a high dose of gunpowder such as mega firecrackers or superbombs can result in severe hand lesions, mutilation and permanent sequelae. The handling of fireworks by children is not recommended. Fulfillment of updated regulations and the correct use of fireworks might contribute to diminishing these injuries.

The Impact of Safety Regulations on the Incidence of Upper-Extremity Power Saw Injuries in the United States.

PURPOSE: Over 50,000 power saw-related injuries occur annually in the United States. Numerous safety measures have been implemented to protect the users of these tools. This study was designed to determine which interventions, if any, have had a positive impact on the safety of the consumer or laborer. METHODS: We queried the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database for hand and upper-extremity injuries attributed to power saws from 1997 to 2014. Demographic information including age, sex, date of injury, device, location, body part involved, diagnosis, and disposition was recorded. We performed statistical analysis using interrupted time series analysis to evaluate the incidence of injury with respect to specific safety guidelines as well as temporal trends including patients' age. RESULTS: An 18% increase in power saw-related injuries was noted from 1997 (44,877) to 2005 (75,037). From 2006 to 2015 an annual decrease of 5.8% was observed. This was correlated with regulations for power saw use by the Consumer Safety Product Commission (CPSC) and Underwriters Laboratories. Mean age of injured patients increased from 48.8 to 52.9 years whereas the proportion of subjects aged less than 50 years decreased from 52.8% to 41.9%. These trends were most pronounced after the 2006 CPSC regulations. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of power saw injuries increased from 1997 to 2005, with a subsequent decrease from 2006 to 2015. The guidelines for safer operation and improvements in equipment, mandated by the CPSC and Underwriters Laboratories, appeared to have been successful in precipitating a decrease in the incidence of power saw injuries to the upper extremity, particularly in the younger population. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The publication of safety regulations has been noted to have an association with a decreased incidence in power saw injuries. Based on this, clinicians should take an active role in their practice as well as in their professional societies to educate and counsel patients to prevent further injury.

[Hands well - all's well : Prevention campaign of the Austrian General Accident Insurance Institution (AUVA) to reduce hand injuries]. / Hände gut ­ Alles gut : Die Präventionskampagne der österreichischen Allgemeinen Unfallversicherungsanstalt (AUVA) zur Reduzierung von Handverletzungen.

Overall, 41% of all work-related accidents lead to a hand injury. In the younger generation, the incidence rate even rises to 50%. In Austria, these accidents result in approximately half a million sick leave days per annum, an average of 12.5 days per accident. In comparison, leisure-time hand injuries show a significantly higher accident rate: 60% of hand injuries occur during leisure time. Far fewer safety measures are taken and a lack of adequate training and a disregard for safety recommendations are observed.This large number of hand injuries led to the launch of a campaign in Austria in 2014-2015 called "Hände gut - Alles Gut", (Hands well - all's well). This campaign was aimed at reducing the costs, a sum of 309 million Euros, incurred solely from work-related hand accidents, by at least 5-10%.These exorbitantly high costs are not only due to severe hand trauma, most result from a multitude of slight and superficial wounds.

A new method of ergonomic testing of gloves protecting against cuts and stabs during knife use.

The paper presents a new method of ergonomic evaluation of gloves protecting against cuts and stabs during knife use, consisting of five manual dexterity tests. Two of them were selected based on the available literature and relevant safety standards, and three were developed by the authors. All of the tests were designed to simulate occupational tasks associated with meat processing as performed by the gloved hand in actual workplaces. The tests involved the three most common types of protective gloves (knitted gloves made of a coverspun yarn, metal mesh gloves, and metal mesh gloves with an ergonomic polyurethane tightener) and were conducted on a group of 20 males. The loading on the muscles of the upper limb (adductor pollicis, flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor carpi radialis, and biceps brachii) was measured using surface electromyography. For the obtained muscle activity values, correlations were found between the glove type and loading of the upper limb. ANOVA showed that the activity of all muscles differed significantly between the five tests. A relationship between glove types and electromyographic results was confirmed at a significance level of α = 0.05.

[Saw Injuries to the Hand - Epidemiological Aspects]. / Sägeverletzungen der Hand ­ epidemiologische Aspekte.

Background: No current studies regarding saw injuries have been published in German literature for quite some time. Despite awareness measures and safety instructions, saw accidents along with crush injuries are the most common causes of severe hand injuries. Approximately 12,000 circular saw injuries occur in Germany each year. Since professional providers have increased prices due to the rising energy costs and a wide range of different home appliance saws are available, increasing use has been made of portable circular saws in the do-it-yourself market sector. Patients and methods: At our hospital, we evaluated the data of 51 male patients with saw injuries. The present study investigated factors that may contribute to accidents involving saws. Results: 80 % of the accidents occurred at home, usually on weekends or after work. 51 % of the accidents happened while patients cut firewood. In 84 % of the cases, an electric table saw was used. The majority of severe hand injuries were sustained with lower priced saws. Injuries occurred most frequently between 11 a. m. and 2 p. m., primarily with injuries to bones, tendons, blood vessels and nerves. Replantable amputations or partial amputations occured rarely. In 37 % of the patients, anatomical reconstruction using osteosynthesis and/or microsurgical techniques was performed successfully. Conclusions: Saw injuries to the hand are sustained almost exclusively by men. Serious injuries from low-priced table saws and due to the lack of protective covering are predominant. Preventive measures and mandatory training could reduce the number of saw injuries in the years to come. The results obtained by us largely confirm the data from previous publications.

Pediatric Firework-Related Injuries Presenting to United States Emergency Departments, 1990-2014.

This study characterizes the epidemiology of nonfatal pediatric firework-related injuries in the United States among children and adolescents by analyzing data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from 1990 through 2014. During this 25-year period, an estimated 136 991 (95% CI = 113 574-160 408) children <20 years old were treated in US emergency departments for firework-related injuries. The annual injury rate decreased significantly by 30.4% during this period. Most of those injured were male (75.7%), mean patient age was 10.6 years, and 7.6% required hospital admission. The hands (30.0%) were the most commonly injured body region, followed by head and neck (22.2%), and eyes (21.5%). Sixty percent of injuries were burns. Injuries were most commonly associated with firecrackers (26.2%), aerial devices (16.3%), and sparklers (14.3%). Consumer fireworks pose a serious injury risk to pediatric users and bystanders, and families should be encouraged to attend public firework displays rather than use consumer fireworks.

Hand and Wrist Injuries in Boxing and the Martial Arts.

Hand and wrist injuries in martial arts are typically a reflection of the combat nature of this discipline. In striking sports, the axial load mechanism of injury is common and causes fractures and dislocations; in grappling sports, sprain injuries and degenerative changes predominate. There is clear evidence to support that hand protection reduces the risk of hand injury. Traditional training in martial arts on proper technique and target selection in striking sports reduces the risk of hand injury, and is an important component of hand and wrist injury prevention.