The Emergent Evaluation and Treatment of Hand Injuries

The hand is especially prone to traumatic injury. Some sources indicate that injuries to the hand account for somewhere between 10% and 30% of patients treated in emergency care settings. Fractures are the most common injury, followed by tendon injury, then skin lesions. Because the mechanism of injury often results in damage to multiple tissue structures, a detailed history and evaluation are vital to properly identifying and managing these injuries. This article provides the emergency physician with tools to identify and manage orthopedic injuries to the hand.