Case Series
Motorcycle Chain Entrapment Injuries to the Hand during Routine Maintenance: A Case Series
PR01-PR03
Correspondence
Manimaran Ramachandran,
Associate Professor, Department of General Surgery, Sree Balaji Medical College, Chennai-600044, Tamil Nadu, India.
E-mail: manimaran.r@sbmch.ac.in
Motorcycle-related hand injuries are commonly associated with road traffic collisions; however, injuries sustained during routine chain cleaning and lubrication remain underreported despite being entirely preventable. This case series included 14 consecutive patients treated between April 2025 and December 2025. All patients were male, with a mean age of 29.6 ± 10.8 years (range 17-55 years). The dominant hand was involved in 9 (64.3%) patients, while injury laterality showed right-hand involvement in 10 (71.4%) and left-hand involvement in 4 (28.6%) patients. The index finger was most commonly affected in 5 (35.7%) cases, followed by the middle finger in 4 (28.6%) cases. All 14 (100%) patients presented with contaminated wounds. Definitive management included primary closure in 4 (28.6%) patients, local flap reconstruction in 3 (21.4%), split-thickness skin grafting in 1 (7.1%), tendon repair in 2 (14.3%), Kirschner wire fixation in 2 (14.3%), and revision amputation in 2 (14.3%). Postoperatively, superficial wound infection occurred in 2 (14.3%) patients and resolved with conservative management, while mild residual stiffness was observed in 3 (21.4%) patients. No cases of deep infection, osteomyelitis, flap or graft failure, or major limb compromise were noted. Complete wound healing was achieved in all patients. Motorcycle chain entrapment injuries represent a preventable yet clinically significant cause of hand trauma in young males. Early irrigation, prompt debridement, and defect- specific reconstruction are associated with favourable outcomes and minimal complications.