[Hand injury in polytrauma. A retrospective study of 782 cases]

The incidence of hand injuries in multiple trauma is not well investigated. Between 1980 and 1986, 782 multiple trauma patients received primary treatment at the University Hospital of Erlangen. At the time of the study, 22% (n = 173) of these patients had died. 93% of the patients met with a traffic accident. In 20% of the multiple trauma patients, additional hand injuries were seen. 75% of these injuries were closed fractures of hand and wrist. The severity of multiple trauma had no influence on the incidence of hand injury. Young people between twenty and fourty years of age were mostly affected in multiple trauma, with increased incidence of hand injuries especially after motorcycle accidents. Delay of diagnosis of hand injuries was rare.