Whisk finger: an electric hand whisk injury with an ischaemic fingertip

Abstract

A 38 year old lady sustained an injury to her left ring finger from an electric whisk which became intertwined around the pulp and nail complex, causing multiple lacerations, with ischaemia of the tip of the digit, in a previously undescribed pattern of injury. The apparent complexity of the wire loops led to initial uncertainty as to whether to remove the whisk in the Emergency Department. However, following consultation with the plastic surgery on-call team, wire cutters were used to divide the metal loops and remove the whisk under digital block, and perfusion returned immediately, preserving the digit. Despite initial concerns regarding the possible role for reconstruction or revascularisation, minimal surgical intervention was required as a daycase.