National Hand Surgery Day today: ‘Rapid treatment minimises effects of injury’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 22

With many people, especially industrial and farm workers, losing or injuring their hand due to accidents while working on machines, need is felt for educating health workers and general public about the treatment options for preventing disability.

As the National Hand Surgery Day will be observed on August 23, a private hospital is organising a series of events to spread awareness on the issue.

Dr Ravi Mahajan, Chief Plastic, Microvascular and Reconstructive Surgeon at Amandeep Hospital, would be delivering a talk on ‘Management of Hand Injuries’ to hand surgeons of Odisha at a webinar organised by AIIMS, Bhubaneshwar.

Dr Mahajan, who is president of the Indian Society for Surgery of Hand (ISSH), said, “Rapid and accurate initial evaluation and treatment can minimise the long-term effects of the injury. Therefore, it is important to spread awareness about the kind of first-aid that must be given to a patient suffering from a hand injury, before he can be treated by a hand surgeon.”

He added that those health workers responding at the accidents sites should be trained for controlling blood loss, splinting at the site of accident and the need for immediate medical care. A series of interactive sessions with rural medical officers and industrial workers have also been scheduled in the coming week, he added.

Dr Amandeep Kaur, director of the hospital, said, “The role of quality healthcare and competent doctors is crucial to saving the lives of those injured. Any form of disability can deeply impact an individual’s life.”