SHARES
The love of avocados is on the rise with people eating almost twice as many avocados as they did just 10 years ago. Avocado is a nutrient-dense, low-carb food, making it undoubtedly a great thing for peoples’ health. Nevertheless, avocado hand injuries are also on the rise.
Avocado hand is an injury due to accidentally cutting or stabbing through the avocado and into the hand. This can cause anywhere from small cuts to deep wounds which may damage muscles, nerves, and tendons and require medical attention and surgical intervention.
Ways to prevent and avoid injury
1. Choose perfectly ripe avocados which are also the tastiest, and the safest avocados to prepare.
2. Wash, rinse, and dry the avocado well to keep it from being too slippery.
3. Always remove the small, hard piece of stem at the top of the avocado.
4. Check for any soft spots in the outer skin that your knife may slip through easier than the rest of the skin.
5. Use a small, sharp knife that you have had practice using routinely.
6. Use a cutting board or hard surface, rather than the nondominant hand to hold the avocado.
How to treat avocado hand?
Avocado hand injuries can range from a small cut that is easily managed at home to severe gashes, punctures or stab wounds that require professional medical attention.
First Aid at Home
Wounds that can be treated at home include:
- Cuts and wounds with bleeding that stops within 10 to 15 minutes
- Wounds where the skin edges are still able to meet and there is no injury to any muscles, tendons, or nerves
- Wounds that do not become infected, heal quickly in less than a week, and are not excessively painful
It is important to clean the wound with cool running water for 5 mins. It may be necessary to stop the bleeding with pressure. Wounds on the hand can be difficult to heal as hands have so much movement and are in contact with many different things throughout the day. Keeping the injury dry, and protected is important to help the area heal.
Another key important factor is ensuring to avoid any risk of infection. An infected cut or wound may be swollen and painful. It may be red and warm to the touch. It may also weep or expel puss or malodourous fluid. Consult a doctor to treat an infection.
When to seek medical attention
If the avocado hand injury is too severe to treat at home, it may be necessary to seek medical attention. If the bleeding does not stop with strong pressure within 10 to 15 minutes, it may be time to seek further help. Also, if there is damage to underlying structures such as tendons, muscles, or nerves, it is necessary to see a medical professional who can provide potential surgical intervention. This is evident if you have numbness and loss of active motion and continued excessive bleeding. Also seek help if the wound that has uneven, deep edges that do not meet may possibly require stitches or at least assessment to ensure any risk of damage to underlying tissue or risk of infection.
Continue to enjoy healthy avocado dishes safely
Now that you can manage the downside of sustaining an avocado hand injury successfully, there is no reason to stop enjoying all the great benefits and deliciousness of avocados and continuing to explore all their amazing possibilities.
Special thanks to:
Dr Aaron Gan Wei Tat is a Consultant Hand Surgeon heading the Centre for Hands and Reconstructive Microsurgery (CHARMS) of the Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre branch. Before joining CHARMS, he was appointed as Consultant in the Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery of the National University Hospital.
Dr Gan specializes in hand and wrist sports injuries as well as degenerative hand and wrist conditions. National athletes, professional MMA fighters and other levels of sportspersons count amongst Dr Gan’s patients who have undergone treatment and rehabilitation leading to quick recovery back to sports. Dr Gan is also an expert in treating painful conditions in the hand and wrist with both non-surgical and surgical methods. Tendinosis and arthritis in the hand and wrist are the most common conditions in this group of patients.
Credit: Sherra Vorley
The Centre for Hands and Reconstructive Microsurgery (CHARMS) contributed this article. Read the original article here.
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by Joanne Lee
Multipotentialite. Loves creating and seeing ideas come alive. View all articles by Joanne Lee.
