Incidental hand injuries in assault: a report of two cases

Abstract

Background: Hand injuries are common occurrences in domestic settings. However, unintentional injuries to a third party who mediates a brawl between two individuals is unusual. Two patients who sustained hand injuries in this circumstance are presented. Method: The patients had initial wound debridement, antibiotic therapy and daily wound dressing till infection was controlled and re-exploration performed. Extensor pollicis longus was found to be severed with a gap of 4 centimeter after mobilization and traction. Palmaris longus tendon graft from the same hand was used to bridge the gap. Case 2 had wound exploration evacuation of Hematoma and ligation of feeding dorsal arch arteries. Results: Both patients made an uneventful postoperative functional recovery of the hands. Second case was lost to follow up. Conclusion: Unintended injuries to the hand can result from arbitration in physical fight which could be life threatening and disabling. Prompt attention from appropriate specialist will curtail the morbidity from such injuries.

Keywords: hand injuries, incidental, assault

Nigerian Journal of Plastic Surgery Vol. 9, No 2, September 2013