Intricate in design and function, the hand is an amazing work of
anatomic engineering. Form follows function in the hand;
therefore, any injury to the underlying structures of the hand
carries the potential for serious handicap. To reduce this risk,
even the smallest hand injuries require proper medical
evaluation. The goal with injuries to the hand is a rapid and
accurate initial evaluation and treatment. In other words, once
an injury occurs, the doctor strives to begin medical treatment
quickly so the short- and long-term effects on the hand can be
minimized. The hand consists of 27 bones (including the 8 bones
of the wrist). When the other associated structures (nerves,
arteries, veins, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint cartilage,
and fingernails) are considered, the potential for a variety of
injuries exists when trauma involves the hand. Hand injuries
account for nearly 10% of hospital emergency department visits.
A series of 1,000 consecutive hand injuries showed the following
distribution: 42% lacera