Purpose: Recent changes in industrial safety, technology, and demographics have raised questions about the evolving landscape of hand injuries in Korea. This study analyzed trends in hand injuries from 2010 to 2023 and assessed their implications for hand surgery. Methods: Data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Big Data Open Portal were analyzed. Trends in crush injuries (S67), amputations (S68), fractures (S62), and lacerations (S61) were examined using descriptive statistics, time series decomposition, linear regression, and the chi-square test. Results: Crush injuries and amputations exhibited significant decreases (54.95% and 24.18% respectively, p<0.0001). Fractures increased by 16.19% (p=0.0228), while lacerations decreased by 6.73% (p<0.0001). The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic temporarily altered these trends, particularly for fractures. Conclusion While severe industrial hand injuries have declined, likely due to improved safety measures and automation, the rise in fractures suggests a shift towards age-related and lifestyle injuries. This evolving pattern indicates a continuing need for hand surgery expertise, albeit with a changing focus. Future research should investigate the long-term impacts of societal changes, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on hand injury patterns.

Purpose: Recent changes in industrial safety, technology, and demographics have raised questions about the evolving landscape of hand injuries in Korea. This study analyzed trends in hand injuries from 2010 to 2023 and assessed their implications for hand surgery. Methods: Data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Big Data Open Portal were analyzed. Trends in crush injuries (S67), amputations (S68), fractures (S62), and lacerations (S61) were examined using descriptive statistics, time series decomposition, linear regression, and the chi-square test. Results: Crush injuries and amputations exhibited significant decreases (54.95% and 24.18% respectively, p<0.0001). Fractures increased by 16.19% (p=0.0228), while lacerations decreased by 6.73% (p<0.0001). The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic temporarily altered these trends, particularly for fractures. Conclusion While severe industrial hand injuries have declined, likely due to improved safety measures and automation, the rise in fractures suggests a shift towards age-related and lifestyle injuries. This evolving pattern indicates a continuing need for hand surgery expertise, albeit with a changing focus. Future research should investigate the long-term impacts of societal changes, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on hand injury patterns.

Purpose: Recent changes in industrial safety, technology, and demographics have raised questions about the evolving landscape of hand injuries in Korea. This study analyzed trends in hand injuries from 2010 to 2023 and assessed their implications for hand surgery. Methods: Data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Big Data Open Portal were analyzed. Trends in crush injuries (S67), amputations (S68), fractures (S62), and lacerations (S61) were examined using descriptive statistics, time series decomposition, linear regression, and the chi-square test. Results: Crush injuries and amputations exhibited significant decreases (54.95% and 24.18% respectively, p<0.0001). Fractures increased by 16.19% (p=0.0228), while lacerations decreased by 6.73% (p<0.0001). The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic temporarily altered these trends, particularly for fractures. Conclusion While severe industrial hand injuries have declined, likely due to improved safety measures and automation, the rise in fractures suggests a shift towards age-related and lifestyle injuries. This evolving pattern indicates a continuing need for hand surgery expertise, albeit with a changing focus. Future research should investigate the long-term impacts of societal changes, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on hand injury patterns.

Finger pulp reconstruction remains a challenging aspect of hand surgery and requires a careful balance between functional restoration and donor-site morbidity. Among the various microsurgical options, radial artery superficial palmar branch (RASP) and toe pulp free flaps have emerged as the two most widely used techniques, each offering distinct advantages. This narrative review comprehensively compares these two microsurgical approaches for finger pulp reconstruction. The RASP free flap harvested from the thenar region provides glabrous palmar tissue with an excellent color match, minimal donor-site morbidity, and the advantage of single-field surgery. However, it lacks the specialized architecture of native finger pulp. In contrast, the toe pulp free flap offers anatomically identical tissue with superior sensory recovery (two-point discrimination, 4–7 mm vs. 6–12 mm for the RASP free flap) and exceptional durability, representing true “like-with-like” reconstruction. Nevertheless, it requires longer operative times and carries significant donor-site morbidity, affecting gait. The selection of these techniques should be individualized based on the defect characteristics, functional demands, and patient factors. The RASP free flap is an excellent first-line option for most defects where standard functional recovery is sufficient, whereas toe pulp transfer remains the gold standard for patients requiring maximal sensory discrimination. Future research should prioritize high-quality comparative studies to evaluate the outcomes of various finger pulp reconstruction techniques.