Transcript Document
Common Hand Injuries I.M. Doctor, M.D. My Office My City, State The information in this presentation was provided to the presenter by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and may be modified. Endorsement of this presentation by the AAOS is not implied or inferred. Thank you to Leon S. Benson, MD and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand for his significant contributions to the content of this presentation. 2 Common Hand Injuries 3 Orthopaedic Surgeon Types of Hand Injuries Where The Injuries Occur How It Happens How to Prevent Injury Medical Guidelines What is an Orthopaedic Surgeon? 4 Medical doctor or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine who specializes in treatment and health maintenance of musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, cartilage and spine) What is an orthopaedic surgeon? 5 The expert in treating the musculoskeletal system The expert in maintaining musculoskeletal health Educating an Orthopaedic Surgeon College Medical School Internship Orthopaedic Residency Fellowship (optional) 2 Years Practice TOTAL 6 4 4 1 4 (1) 2 16 years! What do orthopaedic surgeons do? Diagnose Treat Medication Physical Exercise Brace Surgery 7 Prevent Therapy Types of Common Hand Injuries 8 Cuts (lacerations) Broken bones (fractures) Pinching injuries (crush) Punctures Burns Associated Problems 9 Infections Tendon and ligament damage Deformity (crooked bones) Stiffness Scars Where The Injuries Occur Kitchen Garage Doorways Furniture Hinges Drawers and Windows Home Gym Your Pet’s Mouth! 10 The Kitchen 11 Largest collection of cutting tools and heating equipment One of the busiest places in the home “Familiarity breeds contempt” The Garage 12 Ladders Power tools Lawn mowers Snow blowers Doorways 13 Pinching injuries: door jamb or closing edge Bedroom doors Garage and outside doors Car doors–standard and sliding (mini-vans!) Car trunk and hood doors Furniture Hinges 14 Similar to doorways: pinching and crushing Folding chairs Card tables ANYTHING WITH A HINGE Drawers and Windows 15 Sliding shut produces crushing injuries Heavy cabinets drawers and doors are hard to control Old windows and storm windows tend to suddenly slam down Home Gym 16 Free weights and bar bells: fingertip crushing injuries Exercycles and treadmills: severe mangling injuries, especially common in children Your Pets 17 Cat and dog bites to the hand commonly get infected Almost all bites come from your own pet – not strays! Kitchen – How It Happens 18 Pitting an avocado Separating frozen hamburgers or hot dogs Cutting bagels Holding hot metal containers without insulation on the handles Kitchen – More! 19 Picking up broken glass Trying to free a jammed blender Picking something out of the disposal Washing and drying knives Garage – How It Happens 20 Ladders: not properly set up = FALLS Ladders: hinges cause pinching injuries Power tools: disabling safety features or working too fast Garage – How It Happens 21 Lawn mowers: putting hands in harm’s way Snow blowers: unaware of second fan blade at exhaust port Doorways – How It Happens 22 Children do not respect door jambs and closing edges Car doors: start to close door before all fingers are clear Garage doors: springs can explosively unwind Furniture Hinges – How It Happens 23 Don’t actually see your own fingertips when holding the furniture Can cause severe crushing damage to fingers Children unaware of hinges and can accidentally unfold or fold up chairs and tables Drawers and Windows – How It Happens 24 Don’t realize that your fingertips are in the way when you close a heavy drawer Older windows and storm windows can be difficult to move– and then suddenly give way Home Gym – How It Happens 25 Fatigue after repetitive lifting can make heavy weights hard to control Children see exercycles as toys –injuries occur from entangled fingers Your Pets – How It Happens 26 Separating your pet from fighting with another animal – you will be bitten! Rescuing or extricating your pet when it’s injured – you will be bitten! The Kitchen – Prevention 27 Don’t cut towards yourself Never put your other hand in the path of the knife blade Don’t use knives at all for certain activities WRONG WAY! Kitchen – More Prevention Picking up broken glass Trying to free a jammed blender Picking something out of the disposal Washing and drying knives BE CAREFUL! 28 Garage – Prevention 29 Use a stable, well designed ladder Set up ladder on a level surface with hinges properly locked in place Don’t reach or lean while on the ladder Wear proper shoes! Garage – Prevention 30 NEVER disable safety features on power tools NEVER allow children near power tools NEVER cut towards yourself NEVER use tools when tired or distracted ALWAYS wear eye protection Garage – Prevention 31 Never operate lawn mowers when children might be nearby Never use your hands to unclog lawn mowers or snow blowers Doorways – Prevention 32 Children will not respect door hinges or door jambs until it’s too late Never slam doors Do not allow children to be around doorways unsupervised Common Hand Injuries 33 Do repair or manipulate garage door springs Never close a car door or trunk without looking at the hand that’s touching it Leave it to the professionals! Furniture Hinges – Prevention 34 Same rules as doorways Don’t allow children to play around furniture with hinges Make sure you can see your fingertips when folding up chairs or tables Drawers and Windows – Prevention 35 Be prepared for windows to close suddenly Keep your fingers clear: anticipate that you won’t be able to stop the window from closing all the way Both hands on the window Don’t rush! Home Gym -Prevention 36 Do not use more weight than you can control Watch your fingertips carefully when handling free weights (and the barbell!) Home Gym – Prevention 37 NEVER have children in the same room when using a treadmill or exercycle Do not allow children access to exercycles or treadmills; they will play with it when you’re not around and get hurt Home Gym – Prevention 38 Stop exercising before you get too tired; exhaustion makes it hard to control equipment and more likely you will fall Understand how to get off a move treadmill and how to turn all your equipment off Your Pets – Prevention 39 Separating fighting animals: you’ll be bitten! If you must separate your pet, grab them by the ankles and pull them away Your Pets – Prevention 40 If you are bitten, clean the wound with soap and water immediately Then go to an emergency room to have the wound evaluated, start antibiotics and get a tetanus shot Your Pets – Prevention 41 Animal bite wounds should not be stitched closed; allowing the wound to drain helps prevent deep infection Do not treat the wound by yourself; delay in treatment makes it harder to manage Medical Guidelines 42 If you hurt yourself, seek formal medical attention Going to the emergency room is probably the best choice Important detail: seek immediate assessment by a trained medical professional Medical Guidelines 43 Bleeding wounds must be cleaned thoroughly Up-to-date tetanus immunization is required for any open injury X-rays must be obtained to see if bones are broken Medical Guidelines 44 Antibiotics may be appropriate Some injures require surgery: broken bones or cut tendons or nerves Early assessment makes subsequent care easier and safer to plan A Final Word 45 Understand where the danger lies Use the right equipment Use equipment properly Keep children away TAKE YOUR TIME Resources American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 6300 N. River Road Rosemont, IL 60018 www.orthoinfo.org 46 Common Hand Injuries What are your questions and concerns? 47 Common Hand Injuries Remember, your orthopaedic surgeon can help get you back in the game! 48 Common Hand Injuries 49 Thank you for participating today Stay safe! Remember, your orthopaedic surgeon can help if you’re hurt