Surgeons warn of injury risk when carving pumpkins

Trauma specialists are warning people to be extra careful when carving pumpkins for Halloween after a rise in the number of patients seeking help for serious hand injuries.

The Plastic Hand Trauma Unit team at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital said patients often arrived at the emergency department with deep lacerations, severed tendons and nerve damage.

Abigail Owen, an advanced clinical practitioner in plastics surgery, urged people not to use kitchen knifes to carve and instead use a pumpkin carving kit which included a tool with a serrated edge.

"The problem with the kitchen knife is they tend to slip and I think people underestimate how firm it is to cut through a pumpkin," she said.

"You want to take your time and use small motions."

Although some injuries could be minor lacerations, she said other cuts were much deeper and affected the structure of the hand which could have "big consequences".

"It can be tendon or nerve injuries which can take a long time to rehabilitate from," she said.

Owen said there had been a "surge" in people visiting with hand injuries throughout October.

Amro Jumean, who is the plastics surgery senior house officer, said October was a "very busy month" with university students, families and their children carving pumpkins in preparation for Halloween.

"Most of the time these injuries seem superficial, but the nerves and the tendons sit just under the skin," Jumean said.

"Even though they might still be able to move their hands, there's likely a tendon or nerve injury just lying underneath."

He said if people experience any sort of pain or numbness, they should visit the Emergency Department where they would undergo a full clinical examination.

Jumean added: "If we see or are uncertain of any deficit, we will book them in for surgery to try and explore that and get it sorted as soon as possible."

Owen said to stay safe, people should carve in a well-lit space, select a pumpkin with a smooth surface, use a pumpkin carving kit with a serrated blade and keep it clean and dry to avoid anything slipping.

"The tool is serrated so it won't slip... and keep your fingers away," she said.

"When you're getting the innards out, you don't want to be using any blades, you can use a little scoop.

"Children can do that bit because the sharp implements are away at that point."

She said if someone did slip and cause an injury, they should apply direct pressure over the wound and seek medical treatment if they had numbness or problems moving their fingers.

"You don't want Halloween to be any scarier than it actually is and end up in the Exeter hand unit," added Jumean.

"Make sure you enjoy Halloween with your friends and family and take care of your hands."

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