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Factory worker’s hands crushed by rollers

“I experienced excruciating pain followed by numbness,” he said. Three days ago, Ferdinand, who works for the Arabian Packaging Company, was brought to New Medical Centre (NMC) Speciality Hospital, with both hands crushed by rollers of a fabricating machine.

“It was a Friday, and this patient was referred to us from a government hospital. Both his hands had been completely crushed,” explained plastic surgeon Dr Sanjay Saras.

“He was suffering from extreme compartment syndrome (blockage of veins and arteries caused due to an accident) and we had almost lost his pulse,” said the doctor.

Dr Saras explained that crushing of muscles causes release of toxins that directly attack the working of kidneys.

“In this case the toxins had already been released which could cause the kidneys to stop working at any time. Therefore we were in a hurry to get a clearance from the insurance company before going ahead with the operation,” said the doctor.

“The five hour operation also had it’s highs and lows because we almost lost the patient in between. Thankfully, the operation was a success and his hands have been saved,” explained the doctor, adding that the patient was recovering and doing well.

“Skin graft operations will be done at a later stage when he has fully recovered,” said the doctor.

Describing another case, Dr Saras said that on May 12, a 32-year-old Indian national was brought to the hospital in a similar condition.

“His right hand been caught in the rollers of a printing press and what remained, was the upper limb,” he said.

“Before he was brought to NMC, his hand had been amputated,” he added.

Dr Saras said the patient was also suffering from compartment syndrome and was brought to the hospital with an amputated hand.

“There was no skin on his limb. We had to harvest skin from his thigh and reconstruct his limb after a 10-hour skin/bone re-constructive surgery,” he explained.

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