S Afr J Surg
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Multicenter Study
Severity of upper-limb panga injuries and infection rates associated with early v. late tendon repair.
Panga or machete attacks are a common cause of significant upper-limb trauma in South Africa. Pangas are a multipurpose household tool used predominantly for foraging and agricultural purposes and are highly contaminated. While some centres advocate immediate primary repair if no concern exists regarding the risk of infection, others delay definitive repair until satisfied there is no evidence of infection. ⋯ Our results indicate indicate that panga injuries can be repaired safely at first presentation with no increased risk of infection or re-rupture.