Citation

García-Martínez I, Fernández-Álvarez U, Fernández-Ardura T, Fernández-García A, de Juan-Marín M, Pérez-Arias A. Rev. Esp. Cir. Ortop. Traumatol. 2019; 63(1): 35-40.

Vernacular Title

Revisión del diagnóstico de mano catastrófica a lo largo de 15 años en un hospital terciario: ¿hacemos un uso adecuado del término?

Affiliation

Departamento de Cirugía, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, España; Departamento de Cirugía Plástica, Estética y Reparadora, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.recot.2018.06.001

PMID

30482515

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of patients diagnosed with 'catastrophic hand' by the plastic surgery department in a tertiary hospital in the period between 2000-2015, analyse the evolution of the use of the term 'catastrophic hand' and conduct a review of the literature with a view to proposing the optimal definition for said expression. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We conducted a descriptive and retrospective study of patients diagnosed with 'catastrophic hand' who required hospital care by the plastic surgery department of a tertiary hospital in the period between 2000-2015. We conducted a literature review on the use of the term 'catastrophic hand' and we applied the classifications proposed in the publications consulted to our results.

RESULTS: The number of 'catastrophic hand' diagnoses was 133. We observed a downward trend in the use of the term over the years. Applying classifications based on the impossibility of recovery of an acceptable hand (presence of three long fingers and thumb) by reconstructive procedures, only 9 out of 133 patients could be considered to have 'catastrophic hands', constituting 6.7% of the total cases.

DISCUSSION: The term 'catastrophic hand' has different meanings, and this generates ambiguity. The use of a classification based on the possibility of obtaining an acceptable hand diminishes its use and improves the approach for such injuries.

CONCLUSION: We advocate limiting the use of 'catastrophic hand' to cases that meet criteria of 'mutilated hand' and 'metacarpal hand' to avoid indiscriminate use of the term and optimise therapeutic management.

Copyright © 2018 SECOT. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Language: es

Keywords

Finger injury; Hand; Hand injury; Injury; Lesión; Lesión de dedo; Lesión de mano; Mano