Injury, Int. J. Care Injured 44 (2013) 280

Message from the President of IFSSH

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Injury

jo ur n al ho m epag e: ww w.els evier . c om / lo cat e/ in ju r y

Most Hand Services around the world were initiated due to arecognized need to treat injured hands more efficiently andoptimally.

In spite of improved safety rules and regulations at the workplace, hand- and upper-limb injuries cause more work-time lossthan all other injuries to the body combined (between 65 and 70%).

Furthermore, 60% of all injuries occur in the fingers and hands,and 85–90% of all amputations resulting from injuries occur in theupper limbs. This has a major effect on the economy of any nation,not to mention the financial implications and well-being of theinjured person.

Well established basic principles in dealing with the injuredhand still form the mainstay of the initial management. Theseprinciples include rigorous oedema control, initial wound care bydoing a meticulous debridement and thorough lavage, woundcover with various dressings, skin grafting or flaps, and rehabilita-tion which includes mobilization, sensory retraining and scarmanagement.

Sophisticated techniques have added to our armamentarium inoptimizing such management. Moreover, a better understanding of

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2013.01.019

the healing process and physiology, how the tissue responds totrauma, and the important role and benefits of specializedrehabilitation, has further improved the outcome of our efforts torestore hand function. Psychological support and ergonomicadaptions at the work place, at home or in a recreationalenvironment, recognizes the need to appreciate the person as awhole, rather than an isolated ‘‘hand injury’’ or ‘‘upper limb injury’’.

This issue of ‘‘INJURY’’ reflects some of these advances. GuestEditors Sabapathy and Soucacos have invited an internationalpanel of experts to write on a wide spectrum of topics, giving us thelatest options available in restoring upper limb function.

We thank all the authors for their contributions, sharing theirextensive experience and passion for the hand and upper limb.

Ulrich MennenProfessor of Hand SurgeryPresident: International Federation of Societies for Surgery of

the Hand (IFSSH)Editor: IFSSHezine