Now that pumpkin patches are filled with large orange gourds, we automatically start thinking of Halloween and jack-o-lanterns. The Halloween season is filled with thrills and fun, but also potential danger. Pumpkin carving, costumes, unfamiliar homes, and young children traveling in darkness all provide possible scenarios for accidents and injuries. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) urges children and adults to take proper precautions to ensure a safe Halloween.
Research from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that between October and November:
Orthopedic Hand Surgeons
Orthopedic Hand surgeons have become accustomed to injuries from pumpkin carving this time of year. According to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), pumpkin carving can result in serious lacerations to the hand and also injuries to bones and tendons if precautions are not taken.
The most common accidents associated with pumpkin carving are stab wounds to the fingers and palm. An injury can happen very quickly, which is why it is necessary to be cautious and attentive while carving pumpkins.
Safety tips while carving:
If an injury were to occur, Perimeter Orthopaedics recommends the hand be elevated above the heart and direct pressure applied to the wound with a clean cloth to stop the bleeding. If continuous pressure does not slow or stop the flow within 15 minutes, a trip to an emergency room may be necessary.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends a follow-up with your community hand surgeon to make sure everything is okay and nothing needs to be repaired. While some of the injuries are minor, many involve nerves and tendons in the fingers that require complex surgery for reconstruction and months of therapy for recovery. In situations with severe lacerations, an orthopedic hand specialist, such as Dr. Sonya Khurana, will be brought in to assess the injury and check if a tendon, blood vessel, nerve or combination of the three have been severed and will determine if surgery is required.
Be sure to follow the above safety tips to have a safe, accident-free pumpkin carving experience! In the case of an emergency, please visit your local Emergency Room and then give us a call to follow up with your communities orthopedic hand surgeon, Dr. Sonya Khurana.
Overall, high-quality orthopedic care is invaluable. It helps people, like you, reclaim their quality of life and get back to doing the things they love.
Dr. Khurana specializes in diagnosing and treating problems of the hand, wrist and forearm, including fractures, nerve and tendon problems, sports injuries, congenital limb problems, joint instability, degenerative conditions of the wrist and elbow and small joint replacement. If you or someone you know has had an injury carving a pumpkin this spooky season, refer them to Perimeter Orthopaedics to get back to living a full life.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Khurana and discuss treatment options in person or via telehealth, please call our Atlanta or Woodstock office.
Atlanta: 5673 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd, Suite 825, Atlanta, GA 30342
Woodstock: 281 Heritage Walk, Woodstock, GA 30188