Sunday, January 7, 2018

Shop-borne Illness and Disease Index, Vol 1, Chapter 9: Bigfinger

Bigfinger is one of many conditions that can affect the digits when present in a workshop, and should be safeguarded against whenever possible.  Bigfinger generally occurs in situations that include, but are not limited to, the swinging of a hammer (actual or improvised) or the maneuvering of heavy objects in tight spaces. 

Bigfinger is not a pathogenic affliction, rather, it is brought about by the introduction of an object consisting of harder-than-finger material, possessing considerable weight or moving at a fair rate of speed (usually both) that becomes introduced to the last segment of the phalange.  A transmission falling from a jack is a prime example of such an object and conditions that can produce bigfinger.

It is generally accompanied by some or all of the following: loud verbal ejections from the mouth, feelings of numbness in the affected digit, blood, waving of the hand, and in some cases, improvised dance.

Bigfinger is common enough to expect that it will not be a matter of "if" you contract it, but "when".  Depending on the severity of your case, treatment options range from ignoring the affliction until feeling returns in the digit the next day (when it will no longer be something that can be ignored), to stitches, to binding in a splint.  As usual, amputation is an alternative treatment method, though may not be optional in some cases.

No comments:

Post a Comment