%0 Journal Article
%T Band saw injury in a butcher
%J Occupational medicine
%D 2007
%A Rubin, Lee Eric
%A Miki, Roberto Augusto
%A Taksali, Sudeep
%A Bernstein, Richard Alan
%V 57
%N 5
%P 383-385
%X BACKGROUND: While treating an unusual amputation caused by a meat band saw in a 35-year-old butcher, we sought information from the medical literature that would be useful to other physicians who might encounter similar occupational injuries. METHODS: Using the Medline database and relevant search terms, we reviewed the literature concerning occupational saw blade injuries and porcine microbiology as they related to this injury. RESULTS: Among meat workers using powered cutting equipment, hand injuries and distal fingertip amputations appear to be common. The greatest risk for a wound infection after open exposure to raw pork meat appears primarily related to environmental flora rather than enteric-borne porcine pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: Decision-making strategy when formulating a treatment plan for debridement or reconstruction of saw blade amputations should rely on a detailed understanding of the injury and occupational environment to achieve an optimal patient outcome. When considering operative and antibiotic treatment for porcine meat-related amputation injury, surgeons should adhere to open fracture-related guidelines, since porcine-borne illnesses are most often caused by ingestion rather than transcutaneous inoculation.<p /><p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Oxford University Press
%@ 0962-7480
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqm019