A six-year-old Class 1 student sustained severe hand injuries after her fingers were caught in a classroom door during the mid-day meal break at a government school in Karnataka, according to reports by several news agencies.
The incident reportedly occurred when the child’s fingers were trapped in a closing classroom iron door, resulting in the amputation of portions of two fingertips. The child was subsequently taken for medical care, but the severed fingertip portions were not preserved for possible surgical reattachment, according to allegations made by the family.
Reportedly, parents found the child unconscious and bleeding heavily when they arrived at the school.
According to media reports, the accident occurred during the mid-day meal break when classroom doors were being opened or closed. The girl’s fingers became trapped in the hinge side of the door, a location known to cause crush injuries in children.
Parents have alleged that:
Immediate medical attention was not provided at the school.
The severed fingertip portions were discarded rather than preserved.
There was a delay in transporting the child to a hospital.
School authorities and local officials have reportedly initiated inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
See also: Young Man Amputates Foot for MBBS Disability Quota in UP
Fingertip injuries are among the most common hand injuries in children. Door-related crush injuries account for a significant proportion of pediatric finger trauma.
A fingertip amputation refers to the loss of the distal (tip) portion of the finger, which may involve:
Skin
Nail bed
Soft tissue
Bone (distal phalanx)
The ability to surgically reattach an amputated fingertip depends on several factors, including:
The condition of the severed part
Time elapsed before treatment
Proper preservation of the amputated tissue
Availability of microsurgical expertise
Medical guidelines for traumatic amputations emphasize that if a body part is severed:
It should be gently cleaned with sterile saline (if available).
Wrapped in moist sterile gauze.
Placed in a waterproof bag.
That bag should then be placed on ice (not directly in ice water).
This method helps preserve tissue viability until surgical evaluation.
In pediatric fingertip injuries, microsurgical reattachment (replantation) may be considered if the amputated part is viable and promptly transported. Delays or improper handling can reduce the possibility of successful reattachment.
In this case, according to parental allegations reported by media outlets, the fingertip portions were discarded, eliminating the possibility of surgical replantation.
The child was eventually taken to a hospital for treatment. Reports indicate that she underwent wound management and stabilization.
When fingertip reattachment is not possible, treatment typically includes:
Wound cleaning and debridement
Dressing and infection prevention
Possible reconstructive procedures
Long-term monitoring for nail growth abnormalities or functional limitations
Children often retain partial function due to regenerative capacity, but outcomes vary depending on the extent of tissue loss.
Door-related injuries are a recognized cause of hand trauma in young children. The hinge side of doors poses a higher risk of severe crush injuries.
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