A national audit of hand injuries in UK

Hand injuries are a frequent cause of morbidity, with patterns influenced heavily by societal behaviour. This audit investigated hand injuries in the UK occurring after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted (early 2022) and compared them with data from the COVID-19 lockdown period (early 2021).

A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted across 23 hospitals, with clinicians prospectively recording consecutive hand injuries over a 2-week period (February-March 2022). Eligible cases included referrals to Orthopaedic, Plastic, or Hand surgery services. Data were submitted using a standardised online proforma, and preventability was classified using predefined criteria.

2,309 injuries were recorded from 23 hospitals - a 21% rise. Males made up 60% of cases. Median age was 34, similar to the lockdown period of 40. Sports-related injuries increased (10.2% to 22.7%), while DIY-related injuries declined (8% to 4%). Phalangeal and metacarpal fractures were the most common injuries. Alcohol and drug-related injuries rose from 2.4% to 4.5%. Overall, preventable injuries decreased from 50% to 35%, with only 19% of injuries in children under 16 deemed preventable. Most cases (63%) were managed non-operatively, and 43% required follow-up.

Following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, hand injuries increased, with a shift toward sports-related mechanisms and fewer preventable injuries. Despite this reduction, preventable injuries remain a substantial public health concern, highlighting opportunities for targeted safety interventions.