Page 103 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Spring 2014

Figure 4 Dupert et al. An experimental study of ring 4. Kupfer DM, Eaton C, Swanson S, McCarter MK, Lee GW.
avulsion injuries and two experimental techniques. Journal “Ring Avulsion Injuries: A Biomechanical Study.” J Hand
of Hand Surgery (British and European version 2000) 25B:5: Surgery (1999) 24A:1249–1253.
418–421. 5. McDonald AHN, Cleland HJ, Leung M, and Slattery PG.
“Ring Avulsion Injuries.” Aust. N.Z. Journal of Surgery
(1999) 69.514–516.
6. Murray JF, Carman W, MacKenzie JK. “Transmetacarpal
amputation of the index finger: A clinical assessment of
hand strength and complications”. J Hand Surgery. 1977:2:
471–81.
7. McDonald, supra 4.

arise commonly during law enforcement and military Dr. Levy is assistant professor, Department of Emergency
operations, departments should put in place and enforce Medicine, Johns Hopkins Univer sity School of Medicine, and
policies that prohibit the wearing of rings while at work medical officer with the Center for Law Enforcement Medi-
cine at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Levy is also associate
or when conducting operations. Operators who wish medical director and tactical physician with Howard County
to wear rings when not engaged in active operations Maryland Fire & Rescue.
should consider having their rings modified to weaken
them and reduce the risk of serious injury. Dr. Gerold has served as the program medical director and
tactical physician for the Maryland State Police’s Tactical
Medical Unit since 1998. He is currently the director of critical
References
care medicine for the Surgical and Burn Intensive Care Units
1. Boardman, J. Wilkins RL. Greek gems and finger rings: at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore,
Early Bronze to Late Classical, New Expanded Edition. MD. A physician and attorney, he specializes in anesthesiology
London: Thames and Hudson (2001) p. 19. and critical care medicine, and has been actively involved in
2. Kapickis, M; Kutz, J.E. “Case Report: Titanium Alloy Ring trauma resuscitation and care, the emergency medical trans-
Crush Injury.” American Journal of Emergency Medicine portation of critically ill patients and the development of EMS
(2007) 25, 1084. policy and systems since he first began providing medical care
3. Brooks, D. et al. “Ring Avulsion: Injury Pattern, Treatment as an EMT-A in 1972.
and Outcome.” Clinics in Plastic Surgery (2007) p. 187.

Preventing Ring Associated Injuries: Think Twice About Wearing That Ring 95