A deep cut, numbness or a finger that won't bend after a cut needs prompt care. Tendons and nerves can be injured even when the wound looks small.
Pumpkin-carving tips
- Use a small carving saw or tool, not a big kitchen knife
- Carve on a flat, dry surface with good light
- Cut away from you and keep your other hand out of the blade's path
- Let kids draw the design and leave the cutting to adults
Your hand and wrist hold 27 bones, plus the tendons and nerves that let you carve, grip and wave to trick-or-treaters.
Read about flexor tendon injuries, or see a cut finger that will not bend.
More holiday posts: Daylight saving time ends: check your hands · Día de los Muertos
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Questions patients ask
How do I carve a pumpkin safely?
Use a small carving saw or tool, not a big kitchen knife. Carve on a flat, dry surface with good light. Cut away from you and keep your other hand out of the blade's path. Let kids draw the design and leave the cutting to adults.
When does a pumpkin-carving cut need a doctor?
A deep cut, numbness or a finger that won't bend after a cut needs prompt care. Tendons and nerves can be injured even when the wound looks small. If you have a cut on the palm or finger and cannot bend a joint, do not wait.
When should a hand cut go to emergency care?
Go to emergency care for bleeding that will not stop with pressure, an amputated finger, a cut over a knuckle after a punch, or a cold, pale or blue finger.
Why does a cut tendon need prompt care?
Prompt evaluation matters because cut tendons retract and become harder to repair as days pass.
How many bones are in the hand and wrist?
The hand and wrist contain 27 bones: 8 small carpal bones at the wrist, 5 metacarpals in the palm, and 14 phalanges in the fingers and thumb.
Who treats hand cuts and tendon injuries near Southlake and Dallas-Fort Worth?
Dr. Pedro Loredo, a board-certified hand surgeon (General Surgery, American Board of Surgery; Hand Surgery, American Board of Plastic Surgery) at Loredo Hand Care Institute, 431 E State Hwy 114, Suite 380, Southlake, TX. New patients are seen within days. Call (972) 939-4974. Se habla español.
En español: El único esqueleto que queremos ver es uno sano.
Una cortada profunda, entumecimiento o un dedo que no se dobla después de una cortada requieren atención pronto. Los tendones y nervios pueden lesionarse aunque la herida se vea pequeña.
Consejos para tallar calabazas
- Use una sierrita o herramienta de tallado, no un cuchillo grande de cocina
- Talle sobre una superficie plana y seca, con buena luz
- Corte hacia afuera y mantenga la otra mano lejos de la hoja
- Que los niños dibujen la cara y los adultos hagan los cortes
If this sounds like your hand
Call Loredo Hand Care Institute or start your forms online. New patients are seen within days; surgery, when needed, is scheduled at the first available opening. Se habla español.