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Washing machines are part of every household and there are various reports of upper extremity injuries due to inadequate safety precautions while operating the machine. Most of the injuries occur when an attempt is made to remove the clothes from the machine and the hand gets caught in the spinning machine. The presentation can vary from minor soft...
Citations
... Suresh highlighted the potential of washing machines to cause serious soft tissue injuries, such as compartment syndrome, which can lead to vascular compromise. He emphasized the need for further safety improvements to mitigate these risks [11]. ...
Washing machines are common in most households and crucial for laundry management. However, they are associated with risks, especially in children. In this report, we present three cases of severe hand injuries in pediatric patients that resulted from attempts to unload laundry while the washing machine was still spinning. Fortunately, in all three cases, the injured hands were successfully treated with revascularization of the affected parts. Compared to revision amputation or other reconstructive techniques, finger replantation and revascularization offer the most favorable outcomes. Several preventive strategies, such as more parental supervision and thorough appliance safety training, can reduce the likelihood of such injuries. Increasing awareness and promoting safe practices can drastically reduce the frequency of potentially fatal accidents.
... 3 Another study was published in Oman which also reported cases with injury to the hand due to washing machines. 6 ...
... Modern automatic washing machines have implemented numerous safety mechanisms to prevent injury during operation, but there are older machines in use, especially among lower socioeconomic populations [3]. Devastating injuries are uncommon but may require limb salvage techniques when they do occur. ...
Automatic washing machine injuries are more commonly associated with minor injuries in the pediatric population but may cause life and limb-threatening adult injuries in rare instances. This case describes a severe upper extremity injury after a schizophrenic patient placed her arm into a running machine. Herein, we describe the management, complex reconstruction, and repair of radial, ulnar, and metacarpal fractures in addition to transected tendons and vasculature. The patient had an excellent functional outcome with minor restrictions in motion and complete recovery of sensation.
... Washing machine injuries occur when attempts are made to remove clothes from the machine and the hand gets entangled in spinning laundry, leading to soft tissue injuries and fractures. These injuries occur most in children according to the previous reported study [2]. The present washing machine injury occurs in adult is relatively rare. ...
