Prevention of high-pressure injection injuries to the hand.

OBJECTIVES

To identify populations at high risk for, and the usual mechanisms of injury in, high-pressure injection injuries to the hand.

METHODS

A case note review of a historical cohort of 76 patients, presenting with high-pressure injections injuries to the hand over a 12-year period, collected information including sex, age, hand dominance, and occupation of the patient and mechanism of injury, when documented.

RESULTS

Eighty-two percent of these injuries were work-related, affecting mainly manual workers (84%), including 13 painters, 10 mechanics, 8 farmers, and 3 water blasters. The mechanism of injury, recorded in 63%, was most commonly a ruptured hose or inadvertent gun discharge during cleaning or use.

CONCLUSIONS

Preventative measures could include a targeted safety program for equipment users, engineering improvements in gun and hose design, economic incentives, and workplace legislation.