The functional impact of a traumatic hand injury: a comparison of rural/remote and metropolitan/regional populations

Background/Aims: The aim of this research was to explore the commonalities and differences in the issues associated with the functional recovery and rehabilitation of a traumatic hand injury experienced by people in rural/remote and metropolitan/regional areas of North Queensland, Australia. Methods: Responses to a previously mailed survey exploring the functional impact on a rural/remote population and a metropolitan/regional population were used for analysis and comparison. Findings: Both populations reported a loss of movement, pain and stiffness, and a significantly greater percentage of metropolitan/regional respondents reported a loss of strength. Leisure and work tasks were affected for both groups as a result of their impairment. Rural and remote respondents would have liked more appointments but found that it was expensive to get to them. There was a significant reduction for both populations of respondents reporting their occupation as labourers after having a hand injury. There was also a signi...