Epidemiological, clinical, and etiological aspects of hand wounds at the Bonassama district Hospital

Introduction: Hand injuries are a significant cause of morbidity, impacting individuals' quality of life and productivity. However, there is limited epidemiological data on hand trauma in district hospital settings in Cameroon. This study, conducted at the Bonassama District Hospital, aimed to determine the frequency, sociodemographic characteristics, etiologies, and patterns of hand injuries. Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the surgical department of Bonassama District Hospital. Data were collected from medical records of patients consulting for hand trauma between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020. Analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: The study included 43 patients, predominantly males (36, 83.72%), with an average age of 30.6 ± 13.7 years. The most affected age group was 20–29 years (16, 37.21%). Most patients were single (31, 72.09%), and nearly half (21, 48.84%) reported alcohol consumption. Road traffic accidents (13, 30.90%) were the leading cause of hand injuries, followed by domestic accidents (11, 26.10%), workplace accidents (10, 24.00%), and assaults with knives (8, 19.00%). Palmar injuries were the most common localization (25, 57.00%), particularly in Zone II (23, 54.00%). The most frequent types of lesions were extensor tendon lacerations (30, 69.77%), phalangeal fractures (25, 58.14%), and flexor tendon lacerations (20, 46.51%). Conclusion: This study highlights the predominance of hand injuries among young males, with road traffic accidents and domestic incidents being the primary etiologies. Palmar injuries and tendon lacerations were the most frequent findings. These results underscore the need for targeted preventive measures, including road safety education and occupational hazard mitigation, as well as optimized treatment protocols for hand trauma in district hospitals.