Be careful while preparing avocado!
A 32-year-old female presented to the Emergency Department with a self-inflicted stabbing injury to her left ring finger. The injury was sustained while she was preparing an avocado. On arrival to the ED, the knife was still impaled through patient’s finger as well as the avocado. On examination, there was decreased sensation over the radical aspect of her ring finger. The finger was well perfused with no deficit of the flexor and extensor mechanisms. The knife was removed in the ED after administering digital nerve regional anaesthesia and the wound was washed out. Tetanus and antibiotics were administred. The patient was transferred to theatre and underwent exploration of the wound under axillary block and brachial tourniquet. The radial digital nerve which had been transected was identified and repaired under x3.5 loupe magnification using a 9-0 nylon suture. The patient was discharged the same day. Post-operative recovery was unremarkable with return of full range of motion.
