IOA 2022

Occupational Hand Trauma – Mechanism of Injury and Transient Risk Factors in Jerusalem

Shai Luria 1 Hosam Khatib 1 Madi El Haj 1 Ido Volk 1 Ronit Calderon-Margalit 2
1Orthopedic Surgery, Hebrew University School of Medicine, Hadassah Medical Organization, Israel
2School of Public Health, Hebrew University School of Medicine, Hadassah Medical Organization, Israel

Objective:
Occupational hand trauma is common, a great economic burdon and differs dramatically between locations. There is little information on its incidence in Israel. We aimed to study the characteristics of occupational hand trauma in Jerusalem and its transient risk factors.

Methods:
We conducted a case-crossover study, including all adult patients with occupational hand trauma treated at the Mt. Scopus Hadassah Medical Center emergency department (ED) during a three month period. A custom made questionnaire was constructed in collaboration with the Israeli Institute for Occupational Safety and Hygiene, collecting demographic data, and information on occupation and exposure to potential risk factors. The interview was conducted either in person or by phone. For each potential risk factor we calculated the Mantel-Haenszel incidence rate ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results:

Of 206 patients treated with occupational trauma during the study period, 94 had trauma distal to the elbow (46%). The majority of patients were males, 21-30 years old, and Muslims (56%).

The relative risk of transient factors were maintanance of a machine (RR:400, 95% CI 111-1437), use of a dysfunctional machine (RR:39, 95% CI 19-82) performing an unusual task (RR:20, 95% CI 7-53), being rushed (RR:13, 95% CI 9-18), being distracted by someone (RR:135, 95% CI 67-269), by a cellular phone (RR:109, 95% CI 45-267), or being troubled by something else (RR:56, 95% CI 19-166).

Conclusions:
Several modifiable risk factors were suggested in this pilot study. Phone interviews were found to have good compliance, only slightly inferior to in-person interviews in the ED. A larger study based on phone interviews and a larger geographical area will enable the comprehensive evaluation of personal factors as well as transient risk factors of occupational hand trauma, in order to plan and implement effective interventions.