Accidental injections can be "disastrous"

Launceston, Tas, plastic and reconstructive surgeon Gary Kode said incorrect management of accidental injections could be disastrous.

"There is still limited knowledge and experience in the medical communities so finding the correct advice is not always easy," Mr Kode said.

He was a keynote speaker at the Safe Farms, Healthy Farmers conference at Launceston last month.

Good data and research into the extent of the problem was lacking, he said

Mr Kode outlined several case studies, one of which resulted in amputation of an index finger.

"The impact on self-employed farmers is potentially huge," he said.

"Further research is required, more awareness is required and assistance from the pharmaceutical companies is required.

"On average a patient who has an accidental vaccination will be off work for eight months and have an average of six operations after a Gudair injection."

Accidental injection of Gudair and Piliguard were the major problems, he told the conference.

Livestock Logic veterinarian Dr David Rendell, Hamilton, said he had been training graziers in a one-handed injection technique for a number of years.

"We have documented evidence the one-handed technique is highly reliable; the two-handed technique is less effective and less reliable," Dr Rendell said.

"The one-handed technique is both safer for the operators and more effective for the sheep.

"If you do inject yourself under pressure, you need to get to an experienced surgeon promptly – you need to have the wound flushed and cleaned by a specialist surgeon within 24 hours."

Proactive Agricultural Safety Systems chair Anne Taylor said accidental needle stick injuries were one of the biggest issues in the industry.

She said seven workshops in one-handed injecting techniques had been run in Tasmania by Dr Rendell.

"There isn't any data as such but what we are seeing is a growing awareness to get in contact with a surgeon such as Gary Kode," Ms Taylor said.