MUTILATING SHREDDER CHIPPER HAND INJURIES

Outdoor recreational and vocational hand injuries occur with a predict able seasonal fluctuation and regional variation. An increasing demand in less urban areas for efficient yard and garden waste removal, comb ined with the availability of more affordable shredder/chipper machine s, has increased their utilization. Potential hazards have been well r ecognized, but, not surprisingly, this behavior pattern has concomitan tly introduced another characteristic syndrome of self-inflicted opera tor injury most prevelant in the fall and spring months. The seriousne ss of the possible upper extremity mutilation caused by these devices cannot be understated, as invariably, complex reconstruction modalitie s are essential to restore a useful hand.