High-Pressure Injection Injuries of the Hand: A 10-Year Retrospective Analysis at a Single Academic Center

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Trauma Surgery
• Hand Surgery

Background:

• High-pressure injection injuries of the hand are uncommon but can lead to severe complications, including amputation.
• Prompt surgical evaluation is crucial for managing these injuries effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare current data on high-pressure injection hand injuries with existing literature.
• To supplement the literature with observations on the clinical course and management of these injuries.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective chart review of cases involving high-pressure injection injuries to the hand requiring surgical management was conducted.
• Data collected included patient demographics, injury details, and hospital course.

Main Results:

• Twenty cases were identified, all involving males with an average age of 39.7 years.
• Paint was the most common injected substance (85%), and the index finger was the most frequent site of injury (55%).
• Despite an average delay of 21.9 hours to surgery, no amputations were necessary.

Conclusions:

• High-pressure injection hand injuries predominantly affect middle-aged male laborers.
• The study observed low amputation rates, even with delayed surgical intervention, contrasting with current literature.
• Further research is needed to better understand the clinical course and optimal management due to small sample size and limited published data.