Analysis of Severity of Finger, Hand, and Wrist Injuries among Department of Air Force Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gwilliam, Melody K. ; Socias-Morales, Christina M. ; Hendricks, Scott A. ; Innes, Karen E. ; Reichard, Audrey A. ; Stallings, Heidi A. ; Pick, Laura K. ; Rutherford, Ashley E. ; Smith, Gordon S.
• Description:
  Objective: This study examined US Department of the Air Force (DAF) work-related finger, hand, and/or wrist (FHW) injuries and focused on injury characteristics, severity, and outcomes. Methods: Characteristics, details, and severity of work-related, noncombat FHW injuries (2008-2018) were examined. Rates, patterns of severity, and identification of at-risk populations within DAF were calculated. Results: Nearly a quarter of DAF injuries were FHW-related and decreased from 2008 to 2018. The highest rates were among males, younger workers, and enlisted workers. Odds of severe injury increased with age group. After adjustment, sex was not significantly different. Aircraft maintenance had the most severe injuries, whereas metal workers had the highest rate. Conclusions: Surveillance and focused interventions of high-risk groups, standardized codes, and regular updating of training and procedures contribute to continued reduction of FHW injuries.
• Subjects:
  Hand Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Finger; Hand; Wrist; Enlisted; Officers; Civilian; Military; Occupational Injuries Military Personnel; Hand Injuries; Upper Extremities; Traumatic Injuries; Epidemiology; Maintenance Workers; Metal Workers;
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  West Virginia ; New Mexico ; Philadelphia Region [OSHA] ; Dallas Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSR - Division of Safety Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  12 pdf pages
• Volume:
  68
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071083
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2026 Feb; 68(2):169-180
• Email:
  yhw7@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:88d8239e33297a32e15162489c05b33bece904e829a73af9f33b3b5d656bcc8b08f1abbbb5e1fa90c25b526863ce57b5466e8773d94615c926256ef19300f185
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/257859/cdc_257859_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 709.75 KB ]