Danger in Every Squeeze: Occupational Risks of Sugarcane Juice Machines

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational injuries continue to be one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in most parts of the world including India. A recent study conducted by the US Department of Labour found that 23% of all work-related injuries involved hands or fingers, making hand injuries “the most frequent preventable injuries” Sugarcane juice vendors come under the bracket of 'at risk' group, especially in the summer season when the demand of cane juice in India, resulting in high chances of hand injury. With the help of this study, we could understand demographic and contributory facts in a better way and hence formulate preventive and therapeutic strategies

Material and methods: We present retrospective data on 20 cases of hand crush injury caused by sugarcane machine usage from May 2021 to April 2023. The hospital records were used to extract information regarding the patient's profile, type of injury, time of presentation, etc.

Results: Among all male patients, 75% were between 20 and 30 years of age. Forty percent (8 cases) presented within 8 hours of the injury, while 10% (2 cases) presented within 4 hours. Ten cases (50%) were managed by primary suturing and splinting, while three cases (15%) required fracture fixation. Involvement of the thumb is extremely rare, though it was seen in one of our cases, which had a mangled hand.

Conclusion: This occupational injury must be addressed by prevention and surgical intervention. This study helped us understand the demographic and contributory facts related to sugarcane crushers in a better way and hence formulate preventive and therapeutic strategies for the same.