Hand Injuries in Finland

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Abstract
Patients with hand injuries treated in the casualty department of Turku University Central Hospital [Finland] during 1971-1975 and 1978 were studied; there were 4800 of these patients annually. Hand injuries accounted for 26% of all accidents. Of these patients, 14% were younger than 15, 78% were of working age and only 8% were over 65. Of the adult patients, 3/5 were men. The average age was 35 for men and 45 for women. Calculated on the basis of this material, the annual number of hand injuries requiring medical attention in Finland was 33,000/106 inhabitants. Most hand injuries among adults (70%) occurred in the home, 28% at work and 3% in road accidents. Lacerations of varying degrees of severity constitued 45% of the injuries, fractures 26% and lesser contusions, excoriations and distortions 20%. There were relatively few serious injuries, e.g., 2% of the cases were nerve and tendon lesions. The actual workload caused by these injuries was considerable.

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