"Most Common Pediatric Hand Injury Is 'Laceration'... Boys at Higher Risk"

by Lee Gwanju

Published 26 Mar.2022 10:24(KST)

Ilsan Baek Hospital Plastic Surgery Research Team Analysis
Laceration>Fracture>Burn>Tendon Injury Order
"Attention Needed for Parents of Infants and Toddlers"

Professor Lee Suhyang, Department of Plastic Surgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The most common hand injury among children and adolescents was found to be 'lacerations.' Boys were at a higher risk of injury than girls.

On the 26th, Professor Lee Soo-hyang's team from the Department of Plastic Surgery at Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital analyzed 3,432 children and adolescents under 18 who were treated for hand injuries at Ilsan Paik Hospital over the past 15 years (2005?2019). The results showed that lacerations (simple cuts) accounted for 58.4% (2,004 cases), the highest proportion.

This was followed by fractures at 22.8% (783 cases), burns at 7.9% (273 cases), tendon injuries at 4.9% (171 cases), crush injuries at 2.4% (84 cases), nerve injuries at 2.0% (69 cases), and amputations at 1.3% (48 cases).

Proportion of Pediatric and Adolescent Hand Injury Types.

By gender, 66.0% (2,265 cases) of all hand injury patients were male, about twice as many as females (34.0%, 1,167 cases). By injury type, males had 1.8 times more lacerations, 1.8 times more fractures, 1.6 times more burns, 6.1 times more tendon injuries, 3 times more amputations, 4.8 times more nerve injuries, and 4.6 times more crush injuries than females.

The research team divided the patients into six age groups and analyzed the proportion and types of hand injuries. Group 1 (0?3 years), including infants and toddlers, had the highest hand injury rate at 31.0% (1,065 cases). This was followed by ages 16?18 at 16.3% (558 cases), 13?15 at 16.1% (552 cases), 4?6 at 15.2% (525 cases), 10?12 at 11.7% (402 cases), and 7?9 at 9.6% (330 cases).

Across all age groups, simple lacerations had the highest proportion, followed by fractures. The hand injury rate decreased until Group 3 (7?9 years) as age increased, then showed a tendency to rise again thereafter.

Distribution of Hand Injury Types by Age Group.

Lacerations and burns tended to be more common in younger age groups, whereas more severe injuries such as fractures, tendon injuries, and amputations became more frequent with increasing age. The research team explained that sufficient stretching is necessary during sports or outdoor activities to prevent injuries.

Professor Lee Soo-hyang emphasized, “Tendon injuries or excessive scarring on fingers can cause functional complications, so caution is needed. Especially around infants and toddlers who cannot prevent injuries themselves, sharp objects should be kept out of reach, and items like electric rice cookers and irons should be placed in high locations where children cannot touch them.” She also advised, “Parents need to be attentive to the frequent causes of trauma by age group to prevent hand injuries in children.”