Common causes and types of hand injuries and their pattern of occurrence in Yekatit 12 Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION: Hand injuries constitute a major proportion of trauma emergencies in developing countries. The hand establishes the individual in society, allowing them to meet social and economic responsibilities. Previously hand traumas accounted for 12% of major limb traumas in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; but data on the specific types of tissue injuries and pattern of occurrence of these injuries over the years is limited. METHODS: A retrospective study of sampled 178 patients with hand injury that presented to Yekatit 12 Hospital with hand injuries was done by reviewing the patient's medical records. RESULTS: Hand trauma is the second commonest injury following burns that present to the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery unit in Yekatit 12 hospital. It commonly occurs in males with ratio of 4:1. Average age of patients was 24.5 years. The right hand was more commonly injured than the left hand. Home and fall accidents were commonest cause of injury followed by machine injuries. Commonly occurring injuries were tendon injuries followed by fingertip injuries. The number of patients presenting to the hospital with hand injuries has doubled over the two year study period. CONCLUSION: The number of hand injury cases that presented to the hospital has doubled over the two years study period. Types of hand injuries presenting to the hospitals ranged from simple lacerations to deep tissue injuries requiring long duration of treatment and rehabilitation which has an impact on the productivity of the younger age group that was identified as the most at risk population.