Hand Injuries in Farmers: A 10-Year Review

Abstract

A retrospective review of hand injuries in farmers was carried out in the Regina Health District. One hundred twelve injuries requiring hospitalization were recorded over 10 years. Injuries presented throughout the year, with a peak in August that was associated with the harvest. An increased rate of injury was also associated with age. Entanglement in machinery comprised 84% of injuries, of which swathers, power take-offs, combines and augers made up the majority of causes. Eighty-one per cent of injuries were open, with injury to the index, long and ring fingers being most common. The overall amputation rate was 30%. Patterns of injury relating to each machine were collected, and from these results a classification system is proposed.