Increase in Nail Gun Injuries among Male Workers

A recent study shows that the number of nail gun injuries appear to be on the rise as young males in the work environment accidentally hurt their non-dominant hand.

Previous findings have shown a three times greater increase of such health hazards from consumer-related nail gun injuries from 1991 to 2005 that coincided with the availability of pneumatic nail guns to the general public. And background information from the study shows that only four cases were sustained in a non-work-related setting.

Such injuries can result in a significant loss of productivity and financial cost to the companies carrying such employees harmed.

Information obtained from the Queensland Employee Injury Data Base shows an average of 81 workers' compensation claims for nail gun injuries each year over the past five years in Queensland.

Each case subsequently resulted in an average of 15 days off work.

"Whilst nail gun injuries involving the skull, chest and abdomen have been reported, the vast majority of injuries occur to the upper and lower limbs."

The study notes that nail injuries most often occur in a contaminated environment in which each nail may contain metal barbs or be coated with polymer or plastic that could become embedded in the wound.

As the nail may potentially become discharged into the body via a significant amount of kinetic energy that causes marked soft tissue damage, potential complications of nail gun injuries can create direct damage to soft tissues, bones and tendons that may result in infections and septic arthritis.

The study concludes with the following, courtesy of a press release: "Out of 87 cases identified in this study, which was conducted between January 2007 and July 2012, 58% underwent surgery, 32% were treated solely in the emergency department, and 10% were transferred to a private facility.

"At the time of operation, 14% of cases had tendon, joint or neurovascular involvement and 20% had retained foreign material.

"The researchers said surgery for such injuries is generally short and safe, involving removal of embedded material, repair of structural damage and a sterile washout."

More information regarding the study can be found via the Emergency Medicine Australasia.