Injury pattern aboard the USS Enterprise

A retrospective analysis of the radiographic records of 1653 sailors aboard the USS Enterprise was performed during the author's recent reserve assignment. For the period 1985 to 1987, 102 radiographically recognizable injuries were discovered in the study group. The high rate (53.9%) of hand injuries aboard ship typifies that of a wage-earning population (age 20 to 50). However, analysis of the fracture pattern in the hand indicates that many of the most frequently encountered hand injuries may be preventable. Since the rates of anterior shoulder dislocation and gamekeeper's thumb may also be increased, initiating the necessary investigation and control measures for these injuries seems warranted.