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Hospitalized Swedish children with hand and forearm injuries: a retrospective review
Elinor Ljungberg1, Lars B Dahlin, Fredrik Granath
1Department of Hand Surgery, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. elinor.ljungberg@med.lu.se
Insights
Hospital admissions for pediatric hand injuries in Sweden are rising annually, affecting both younger and older children. Understanding the causes of these injuries is crucial for prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Trauma Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- Hand injuries are a significant cause of pediatric hospitalizations.
- Identifying trends and risk factors is essential for effective prevention and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the incidence and characteristics of hand injuries in hospitalized children in Sweden.
- To identify specific risk groups and injury patterns among pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective national study utilizing the Swedish Hospital Discharge Register.
- Inclusion criteria: children with primary hand or forearm injuries admitted between 1987 and 2001.
Main Results:
- A total of 9,855 children were included, with a median age of 7 years; two-thirds were boys.
- Incidence of hand injuries increased across all pediatric age groups (0-6 and 7-14 years).
- Wounds and fractures nearly doubled, while muscle/tendon injuries decreased; sharp objects were the primary cause.
Conclusions:
- There was a significant annual increase in hospital admissions for pediatric hand injuries in Sweden.
- Further analysis into the underlying causes of this rising trend is necessary for developing targeted interventions.
Aim:
To analyse incidences and find risk groups in children hospitalized with hand injuries in a national retrospective study.
Methods:
All children with a primary hand or forearm injury admitted to Swedish hospitals during 1987-2001 were retrieved from the Swedish Hospital Discharge Register and analysed as to incidence and characteristics.
Results:
Among 9855 children included, the median age was 7.0 y and two-thirds were boys. The incidence increased in both younger (0-6 y) and older (7-14 y) children. Wounds and fractures almost doubled, while muscle/tendon injuries decreased. In younger children, wounds and burns were the most frequent diagnoses. In older children, fractures and muscle/tendon injuries were common. Sharp objects caused most of the injuries. University hospitals treated almost half of the children.
Conclusion:
The number of children with hand injuries admitted to hospitals in Sweden increased annually. Analyses of causes behind the increase are important to counter this trend.
