Economic consequences of accidents to hands and forearms by log splitters and circular saws: Cost of illness study

Martin Eriksson, Johan Karlsson, Katarina Steen Carlsson, Lars Dahlin, HansE Rosberg

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Abstract

We estimated costs associated with injuries to hands from log splitters and circular saws used to cut up firewood and assessed the value of prevention. The study was carried out as a cost of illness study with an incidence approach based on 57 consecutive patients (median age 51; range 8--81) with injuries to the hand or forearm. Twenty-six of the 57 had an amputation which required microsurgery and 31/57 had various injuries. Median Hand Injury Severity Score (HISS) reflecting the severity of all injuries was 67 (range 6--332). Median DASH score after 2--7 years was 12.5 (0--73.3). Total cost (direct costs, costs of lost productivity, and lost quality of life) was estimated to roughly EUR 14 million (EUR 2.8 million/year), where the cost of lost quality of life is 82% of the total cost and loss of productivity and direct costs are 9% each. Injuries sustained from log splitters and circular saws account for considerable costs, but first and foremost human suffering.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)28-34
JournalScandinavian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery
Volume45
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Bibliographical note

The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.
The record was previously connected to the following departments: Lund University Centre for Health Economics (LUCHE) (016630120), The Vårdal Institute (016540000), Hand Surgery Research Group (013241910), Reconstructive Surgery (013240300)

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Surgery

Free keywords

  • Hand injury
  • cost of illness
  • log splitter
  • circular saw
  • DASH

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