Mild to Mutilating: Hand Injuries Associated with Kite Flying at a Tertiary Care Center

Background: Glass-coated kite string ( manja ) has transformed a popular festival sport into a public-health hazard. Materials and Methods: All patients with hand injuries attributable to kite string who presented to a tertiary care center between January 1, 2023, and January 31, 2025, were enrolled ( n = 100). Injuries were stratified as mild, moderate, or severe. Demographics, mechanism, injured structures, operative details, complications, and 6-month functional outcomes (range of motion [ROM], disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score) were analysed descriptively. Results: Mean age was 21.4 ± 8.6 years; 90% were male, and 68% injured their dominant (right) hand. Incidence peaked between 10 and 18 January (kite festival). Thirty-five patients had mild injuries managed by local care alone. Fifty patients sustained moderate injuries comprising 62 flexor and nine extensor tendon transections plus 11 digital-nerve lacerations; all underwent primary repair and early mobilization. Fifteen patients presented with severe mutilation (nine subtotal and six complete amputations). Microsurgical revascularization/replantation was attempted for 12 digits, with 10 (83%) surviving. The overall infection rate was 3%. At 6 months, 88% of moderate-injury patients regained ≥75% ROM; 12% required secondary tenolysis. Ten of 15 severe-injury patients achieved useful hand function, but five had permanent partial disability. Conclusions: Kite-string hand injuries range from trivial cuts to disabling amputations. Early exploration, meticulous tendon/nerve repair, and prompt microsurgical salvage yield excellent results. Legislative enforcement of manja bans, promotion of protective gloves, and festival-season education are essential for prevention.