Hand trauma associated with non-professional animal slaughter during Eid al-Adha: an emergency and hand surgery experience.

BACKGROUND

Eid al-Adha is an important religious holidays celebrated annually in Muslim communities, during which the ritual of animal sacrifice is performed. The demand for butchery services rises significantly during this period; however, due to the limited availability of professional butchers, many individuals undertake the slaughter themselves. This practice is associated with an increased incidence of traumatic injuries, particularly involving the hands and upper extremities. This study aims to characterize the pattern of hand and upper limb injuries associated with non-professional animal slaughter during Eid al-Adha and to raise awareness of these preventable traumas.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we evaluated patients who presented to our clinic with hand injuries requiring surgical intervention during multiple Eid al-Adha periods. The study population primarily consisted of individuals injured during animal slaughter who were admitted to the hospital for hand or upper extremity trauma. Demographic data and injury types were evaluated.

RESULTS

Over an eight-year period, a total of 259 extensor tendon injuries, 76 flexor tendon injuries, and 275 superficial soft tissue injuries related to Eid al-Adha were surgically treated at our clinic.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a retrospective analysis of hand tendon and superficial tissue injuries observed over eight Eid al-Adha periods. The findings indicate that non-professional slaughter of sacrificial animals poses a significant risk, particularly for hand and tendon injuries. Ensuring that slaughter procedures are performed by trained individuals, along with the use of protective measures, may play an important role in reducing these preventable injuries.