Manali has changed. One audible change is the sound of power saws which has replaced the intermittent whop of the axe. This technological advancement has exacted its toll. Injuries from chain saw accidents have increased. This year alone we treated seven accidents from chain saw ranging from the very serious to the trivial.
One such accident was the story of Ram Thakur. His chainsaw bucked at a knot in the wood and sliced his foot open. We have also had injuries to tendons of the hand and arm, nerves of the forearm, and thave had he occasional major blood vessel to the forearm divided. All these patients are brought to the Lady Willingdon hospital, because it is the only place where these injuries can be fixed. The next centre that is capable of repairing these injuries is in Ner chowk or in Bilaspur. If a major blood vessel is divided, the delay in travelling there may cost the person their limb.
We can fix these injuries here in Manali since we have both the expertise and the equipment needed. Rapid control of the bleeding and quick transfer to the operating room are paramount, since tissues die for the lack of blood supply. If there is portion of the vessel missing, a graft is obtained from the leg and reversed to provide continuity. Under magnification , the blood vessels are stitched meticulously together using sutures that are nearly invisible to the naked eye.
We usually get anywhere between eight to twelve of these injuries every year and many who would have otherwise lost function of their limbs or even of their entire limb have been restored.
