[The incidence of hand trauma the COVID-19 epidemic setting]

In France, a lockdown was enforced from March 17 to May 11, 2020. It was renewed with different modalities from April 3 to May 3, 2021. Our objective was to compare the epidemiology of hand and wrist trauma injuries during these periods to a control period, with the hypothesis of a decreased incidence of hand and wrist trauma.

Patients consulting at a trauma emergency center of a university hospital labeled SOS-Mains were included during lockdowns, and were compared with a control group who consulted during an equivalent period in 2019. We retrospectively collected demographic and clinical data in relation to hand and wrist injuries.

During lockdowns, there was an increase in these injuries relative to the total number of patients (from 16% to 22% and 18%). We found a decrease during the first lockdown in the number of fractures, amputations, burns, infections, injuries secondary to a work accident and isolated wounds but a significantly higher proportion of tendon and vasculonervous injuries in the first lockdown (12% vs. 4%).

In first lockdown, the incidence of hand and wrist injuries decreased, but there was an increase in tendon and microsurgical injuries. This may be explained by the change in leisure activities. This underlines the importance of preventive measures concerning the risks related to some activities (use of sharp/motorized tools) in this context of health crisis.