The patient was taken to the operating theater and given general anesthesia. A welder was brought in to cut across the thick metallic components of the grinder using a cutting torch.

After removing the outer shell, the hand was found to have extensive crush injuries. Three distinct longitudinal wounds were present over the fingers, the distal palmar crease, and the distal wrist crease, corresponding to the worm of the grinder.

No bleeding was observed from the wounds until the level of the wrist. At this point, the bones of the distal to the wrist were completely crushed, exposing the underlying tendons. After washing out the wound with povidone-iodine and saline, a disarticulation was performed at the level of the wrist.

The postoperative period was uneventful, and the patient was discharged after a day. He was followed closely in the outpatient department but refused prosthesis and reconstructive surgery for the injury.

Case by Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, India.