Hand & Face Trauma

Hand & Face Trauma is one of the most complex injuries treated in the emergency department. They are time sensitive and require highly specialized care. Patients may have difficulty accessing appropriate hand trauma care due to a variety of factors.

At one time or Face-Traumaanother, everyone has had a minor injury to a finger, hand, or wrist that caused pain or swelling. Most of the time our body movements do not cause problems, but it's not surprising that symptoms develop from everyday wear and tear, overuse, or an injury.

Finger, hand, or wrist injuries most commonly occur during:

• Sports or recreational activities
• Work-related tasks: Work or projects around the home, especially if using machinery such as lawn mowers, snow blowers, or hand tools.
• Accidental falls
• Fistfights
• The risk of finger, hand, or wrist injury is higher in contact sports, such as wrestling, football, or soccer, and in high-speed sports, such as biking, in-line skating, skiing, snowboarding, and skateboarding. Sports that require weight-bearing on the hands and arms, such as gymnastics, can increase the risk for injury. Sports that use hand equipment such as ski poles, hockey or lacrosse sticks, or racquets also increase the risk of injury.
• Treatment for a Face, finger, hand, or wrist injury may include first aid measures; medicine; "buddy-taping" for support; application of a brace, splint, or cast; Physiotherapy; and in some cases, surgery.
  Treatment depends on:
  • The location, type, and severity of the injury.
  • How long ago the injury occurred.
  • Your age, health condition, and activities (such as work, sports, or hobbies).