Intraoperative Extrication of a Pediatric Hand Entrapped Within a Household Meat Grinder: A Case Report

Abstract

Hand injuries involving meat grinders are uncommon and frequently result in severe crush injury requiring amputation or complex reconstruction. This report describes a unique case of intraoperative mechanical extrication of a pediatric hand entrapped within a household meat grinder. A right-hand-dominant six-year-old boy presented with his right hand entrapped in a household meat grinder. Due to mechanical entrapment and the lack of appropriate tools in the operating room, safe removal required intraoperative coordination with emergency services. The injury was non-reconstructable, requiring carpometacarpal-level amputation and multidisciplinary postoperative care. This case illustrates the surgical and organizational challenges associated with pediatric meat grinder injuries and demonstrates the importance of rapid multidisciplinary collaboration. Prompt recognition of non-salvageable injury, decisive surgical management, and coordinated postoperative rehabilitation are critical to optimizing patient outcomes while reinforcing the importance of injury prevention.