Paediatric hand injuries and the galvanized-iron fence

A review of all cases of operative hand surgery at The Adelaide Children's Hospital during the period January 1-June 30, 1988 yielded 38 cases that resulted from trauma (burns and fractures excluded). Lacerations from uncapped galvanized-iron fences occurred in 10 patients. Of these patients, two patients required skin grafts, seven patients had flexor-tendon injuries and three patients suffered digital-nerve lacerations. Twenty-five fingers were damaged. The pattern of injury involves multiple digits at different levels, with distally-based skin flaps, frequent divisions of flexor tendons and less-frequent nerve damage. This serious injury is common in South Australia but could be prevented easily by capping all iron fences.