Outpatient visits and treatment methods of patients with hand and wrist injuries in Vreden National Medical Research Center of Traumatology and Orthopedics

Abstract

Background. Number of injuries of the hand and wrist is constantly growing from year to year. Inpatient treatment of these patients increases both time and financial costs for healthcare organizations. Thus, analysing the structure of patients who applied to the emergency department would make it possible to take more objective decisions on the organization of healthcare delivery. The aim — to analyse outpatient visits and treatment methods of patients with hand and wrist injuries who applied to the emergency department of the Vreden National Medical Research Center of Traumatology and Orthopedics. Methods. A sample of 18.848 patients who applied to the emergency department with hand and wrist injury in the period from 2020 to 2023 was drawn in the database of the Medialog medical information system of the Center. Results. The most common types of hand and wrist injuries were: metacarpal and phalangeal fractures, damage to the skin and subcutaneous tissue, damage to the finger flexor tendons and nerves. Of the operations performed, K-wire osteosynthesis and primary suture of the extensor or flexor tendons of the fingers were most often used. Significantly less common were the following operations: primary surgical debridement, suture of nerves and blood vessels, replantation and revascularization. About 20% of patients with hand injuries can receive emergency medical care in emergency rooms of Saint Petersburg, thereby reducing the queue for surgical service in the Center’s emergency department. Conclusion. Treatment of patients with hand and wrist injuries requires comprehensive approach involving doctors of various specialties at each stage of the treatment. Proper organization of such patients’ treatment will significantly improve the quality of medical care and the treatment outcomes.