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Alcohol-related hand injuries: an unnecessary social and economic cost

R A Marston1

  • 1Department of Plastic Surgery, West Norwich Hospital, Norfolk.

Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
|September 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Severe hand injuries are a major cause of plastic surgery referrals, often leading to longer wait times. A significant portion of these injuries are preventable, alcohol-related incidents, impacting healthcare costs.

Area of Science:

  • Plastic Surgery
  • Trauma Surgery
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Severe hand injuries represent a significant burden on plastic surgery units.
  • Patient admissions for hand injuries can displace elective procedures, increasing waiting lists.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the incidence and causes of severe hand injuries presenting to a plastic surgery unit.
  • To identify the proportion of these injuries that are alcohol-related and preventable.
  • To discuss the economic implications for the plastic surgery unit.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of patient referrals and admissions for severe hand injuries.
  • Data collection on injury mechanisms, patient demographics, and alcohol involvement.
  • Assessment of the impact on hospital bed availability and waiting list times.

Main Results:

  • Severe hand injuries are the leading cause of acute referrals to the plastic surgery unit.
  • A high percentage of these injuries were found to be alcohol-related.
  • These preventable injuries contribute to bed shortages and extended waiting list times.

Conclusions:

  • Alcohol-related severe hand injuries place a substantial strain on plastic surgery resources.
  • Interventions aimed at reducing alcohol consumption could mitigate the incidence of these injuries.
  • Addressing the economic cost associated with these preventable injuries is crucial for resource management.

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