The economic impact of hand injuries.

The socio-economic effect of 156 hand injuries was studied prospectively. The average cost per injury was IR£474. 28 of the more serious injuries utilized two-thirds of the resources and resulted in 83% of the days lost from work. In the working population approximately 50% of hand injuries occurred at work. In assessing the economic impact of hand injuries, labour costs account for 55 to 65% of costs. Amputation and complicated laceration were the most costly and resulted in more days lost at work. Injuries at work result in greater costs because they involve more serious injuries, and because workers requiring manual skills need a higher level of hand rehabilitation to return to work. Unless the labour costs are taken into account, the true impact of hand injuries is greatly underestimated.