Preventable pumpkin carving injuries

Every Halloween, surgeons at St. Joseph’s Hand and Upper Limb Centre (HULC) treat patients with severe cuts to fingers and hands suffered while carving decorative pumpkins.

“These preventable injuries can lead to surgery followed by three to four months of rehabilitation,” warns Dr. Ruby Grewal a HULC orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in hand and wrist surgery. 

“Injuries most commonly occur when the knife slips, either as patients are cutting towards their other hand or if the knife gets stuck in the pumpkin and is pulled out with force.”

There are several ways to prevent pumpkin carving injuries:

1. Ensure that you carve in a well lit area
2. Dry your tools, hands and pumpkin often as moisture leads to slipping of the knife
3. Always have adult supervision and do not allow children to use knives or sharp utensils
4. Cut away from yourself  and others and use small controlled strokes
5. Use a pumpkin carving kit, available in stores that include small serrated knives designed specially for carving

“If you do cut your hand while carving, ensure you apply direct pressure to the area with a clean cloth to stop the bleeding and clean the wound thoroughly,” adds Dr. Grewal. “If your finger loses feeling or if you can’t move it normally go to the Urgent Care Centre at St. Joseph’s Hospital or the closest emergency room for an evaluation as you may have cut a tendon or nerve.”