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J Hand Microsurg 2021; 13(03): 157-163
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1725220
Original Article

Can Open Hand Injuries Wait for Their Surgery in a Tertiary Hospital?

Wei Ping Sim
1   Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
,
Hannah Jia Hui Ng 
1   Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
,
Benjamin Zhiren Liang
1   Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
,
Vaikunthan Rajaratnam
1   Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Objective Open hand injuries are routinely admitted and planned for surgery acutely, competing with other surgical emergencies. This retrospective study aims to evaluate if a delay in timing to surgery for open hand injuries led to an increased rate of infection.

Materials and Methods All patients who sustained open hand injuries and underwent semi-emergent day surgery from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016 were included. Outcome of postoperative infection was analyzed against demographic data, injury details, and delay from trauma to therapy.

Results There were 232 cases (91% males) included, with 92.0% performed under local anesthesia. Deep seated postoperative infection was seen in 1.3%, which was not significantly associated with delay to surgery.

Conclusion We had comparable infection rates as compared with published literature. Delayed timing of surgical treatment in open hand injuries was not associated with increased rates of deep-seated infection. Managing open hand injuries as semi-emergent surgeries may be acceptable given the low infection rates.

Keywords

open injuries - hand injuries - infection - deep infection - semi-emergent surgery


Publication History

Article published online:
04 March 2021

© 2021. Society of Indian Hand & Microsurgeons. All rights reserved. Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd., A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India

 

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