Most Common Consumer Products Associated With Hand and Wrist Injuries Presenting to US Emergency Departments: An...

Hand and wrist injuries place a large burden on US emergency departments, and the injury mechanism is often related to consumer products. The purpose of this study is to identify the consumer products most frequently associated with injuries of the hand and wrist that present to US emergency departments and analyze demographic variables and disposition status.

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database was queried for hand and wrist injuries in patients of all ages from 2018 to 2022. Consumer product codes, demographics, injury sustained, diagnosis, and disposition were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Knives accounted for 11% of all injuries, and doors were the next most common consumer product identified (n = 15 827; 5.8%). The highest proportion of injuries occurred in patients ages 15 through 24 (n = 51 900; 19%). The consumer product varied significantly by age group: doors were most common for ages 1 through 9, sports equipment for ages 10 through 14, knives for ages 15 through 80, and floors or stairs for patients older than 80. Discharge disposition was primarily outpatient (n = 257 895; 94%). Age, male sex, stairs, floors, and windows were associated with significantly higher odds of admission.

The most common consumer product codes involved in injuries varied significantly between age groups, likely reflecting different common injury mechanisms. Knives were the most common consumer product identified. Patients were more likely to be admitted if older than 65, male, or injured with floor, stairs, or windows.