gms | German Medical Science

GMS German Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery – Burn and Hand Surgery

Deutsche Gesellschaft der Plastischen, Rekonstruktiven und Ästhetischen Chirurgen (DGPRÄC)
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verbrennungsmedizin (DGV)

ISSN 2193-7052

Finger injuries by fast rotating blades: A case report of an accident with a blender and the intervention of the fire brigade

Fingerverletzungen durch schnell rotierende Klingen: Ein Fallbericht eines Unfalls mit einem Mixer und dem Eingreifen der Feuerwehr

Case Report

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  • corresponding author Matthias Hillenbrand - Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Erlangen, Germany
  • Raymund E. Horch - Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Erlangen, Germany

GMS Ger Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2014;4:Doc02

doi: 10.3205/gpras000021, urn:nbn:de:0183-gpras0000216

Veröffentlicht: 15. Januar 2014

© 2014 Hillenbrand et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open Access-Artikel und steht unter den Creative Commons Lizenzbedingungen (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.de). Er darf vervielfältigt, verbreitet und öffentlich zugänglich gemacht werden, vorausgesetzt dass Autor und Quelle genannt werden.


Abstract

We present a case report of a 27-year-old female who had an accident with a blender. She was brought to the Emergency Department having pinched her left forefinger between the blades. Previous attempts by the local fire brigade to free the finger initially failed. After several attempts it finally succeeded by turning it carefully away from the blade. Although first impressions of the accident might have expected a worse injury, fortunately it just showed a nail bed cut. Most accidents of this type cause serious injuries with the involvement of vessels, nerves, tendons, muscles or bones.

Keywords: finger injuries, hand injuries, emergency care

Zusammenfassung

Wir präsentieren einen Fallbericht einer 27-jährigen Frau, die einen Unfall mit einem Mixer hatte. Sie wurde mit ihrem linken Zeigefinger zwischen den Klingen eingeklemmt in die Notaufnahme gebracht. Vorherige Versuche der örtlichen Feuerwehr, den Finger herauszulösen, waren zunächst gescheitert. Nach mehreren Anläufen ist es schließlich doch gelungen, indem der Finger vorsichtig von der Klinge weggedreht wurde. Obwohl die ersten Eindrücke des Unfalls eine Verletzung schlimmeren Ausmaßes hätten vermuten lassen, zeigte sich zum Glück nur eine Schnittverletzung des Nagelbetts. Die meisten Unfälle dieser Art führen zu schweren Verletzungen mit Beteiligung von Gefäßen, Nerven, Sehnen, Muskeln oder Knochen.


Introduction

Most accidents with fast rotating blades cause serious injuries with the involvement of vessels, nerves, tendons, muscles or bones [1]. There are only a few cases in which they end off lightly. In addition to carelessness, insufficient precautions of the device play a crucial role in the development of these injuries.


Case report

A 27-year-old female was brought to the Emergency Department having pinched her left forefinger in a blender. The accident occurred at home while mixing puree for her baby. Previous attempts by the local fire brigade to free the finger initially failed. On closer examination the distal phalanx of her left forefinger was found pinched between one of the three blades and the interior wall of the blender (Figure 1 [Fig. 1]). The other fingers of the left hand were found free and unharmed. The fire brigade tried unsuccessfully to cut the blades of the blender with a side cutter. Considering the unfavourable position of the finger, the risk of further damages was too high. Under local anaesthesia it finally succeeded to free the finger by turning it carefully away from the blade. Although first impressions of the accident might have expected a worse injury, fortunately it just showed a nail bed cut. There were no bone fractures or tendon injuries found. Peripheral perfusion and sensibility were unimpaired. Under continued local anaesthesia and tourniquet control of the left forefinger the nail was removed and a nail bed suture was performed [2]. Finally an artificially nail was implanted (Figure 2 [Fig. 2]). The forefinger was kept in a special splint for 1 week [3].


Discussion

Most injuries with fast rotating blades happen due to carelessness. As seen in this case, there is often an attempt to remove things with fingers between the supposedly stationary blades. An unconsciously trigger of the start button leads to the activation of the blender, which can have fatal consequences. Today, many modern blenders can only be activated after closing the lid, which can avoid these types of accidents. For the extent of the injury the performance of the blender and the span of the blades is of great importance [4]. In this case it was an older device with a short span of blades and probably less performance.


Conclusion

In principle, all attempts should be avoided to put fingers or any rigid objects even in seemingly switched off blenders. In any case it should be ensured that the device is unplugged. The safety precautions in old devices are often much too low. As long as they are still in use, injuries by fast rotating blades like in this case are to be expected.


Notes

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.


References

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2.
Bindra RR. Management of nail-bed fracture-lacerations using a tension-band suture. J Hand Surg Am. 1996 Nov;21(6):1111-3. DOI: 10.1016/S0363-5023(96)80329-7 Externer Link
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Gahankari DR, Lalwani NR. Finger injury splints. Br J Plast Surg. 1993 Jun;46(4):344. DOI: 10.1016/0007-1226(93)90023-5 Externer Link
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Sudah OS, Coffin-Beach D, Muzzio FJ. Effects of blender rotational speed and discharge on the homogeneity of cohesive and free-flowing mixtures. Int J Pharm. 2002 Oct;247(1-2):57-68. DOI: 10.1016/S0378-5173(02)00377-0 Externer Link