Surgeons report dramatic spike in traumatic hand injuries

Surgeons say they have seen a dramatic spike in traumatic hand injuries over the holiday season, with Queenslanders risking life and limb during the Christmas rush. WARNING: Graphic images

Mater trauma hand surgeon Dr Andrew Hadj said he had seen a 50 per cent spike in patients in recently.

Queenslanders are risking life and limb rushing around Christmas with surgeons reporting a dramatic spike in traumatic injuries caused by power tools, knives and broken glasses.

Mater trauma hand surgeon Dr Andrew Hadj said he had seen a 50 per cent spike in patients in recent weeks – and expected the surge to continue through the holiday season.

“We are seeing a spike in both industrial and domestic incidents, often involving severed or crushed hands and fingers,” Dr Hadj said.

“Most patients tell me they were in a rush, hurrying or running late when they sustained an injury, and weren’t paying attention.

“People need to slow down and take their time, especially when items like knives and power tools are involved.”

Mater trauma hand surgeon Dr Andrew Hadj.

Patients with traumatic injuries often require extensive and complex reconstructive surgery, as well as one to two years of rehabilitation.

“Despite the significant advances in reconstructive repair, these patients will always have a degree of major impairment, so prevention is the best remedy,” Dr Hadj said.

An X-ray image of a nail embedded in a Mater Private Hospital patient’s hand.

Mater Private Hospital patient Melissa Stent sliced her fingers in an industrial fan.

The experienced surgeon said he had noted an increase in injuries from industrial-grade food processing equipment and other traumatic workplace injuries.

“From a workplace perspective, there are often tight timelines and requirements to finish jobs by Christmas or before the New Year,” he said.

Nail guns are dangerous.

Ouch!

Mother-of-three Melissa Stent almost severed multiple fingers on her right hand when she was cleaning an industrial fan at her workplace.

Mrs Stent, 49, who works in a food processing factory said the accident happened in a “split second”.

“The fan didn’t have a cover on it, it was still on and I thought I was standing to the side of it to clean it, but I put my hand straight in from the front,” Mrs Stent said.

The Logan woman described the injury she sustained on November 26 as “pretty bad” and saw her thumb and index finger partially amputated and five lacerations to her hand.

Melissa Stent’s injuries required extensive stitching.

Mrs Stent was operated on by Dr Hadj and said he saved her fingers.

An increase of activity in home kitchens leading up to Christmas with stress and time constraints contributed to a significant volume of glass and knife injuries, Dr Hadj said.

Other dangers to be wary of include animal bites and injuries relating to power tools.

“There has been a noticeable rise in animal bites across Brisbane,” Dr Hadj said.

“And over the past few weeks I have definitely seen more angle grinder and nail gun injuries.

“Angle grinders are often brutal as they tend to cause tissue damage and severe injury to the surrounding tissues.

“This can lead to the devastating loss of hand function.”

CAUSES OF TOP 5 HAND INJURIES

1 Nail guns

2 Animal bites

3 Angle grinders

4 Sharp knives

5 Glass