Here are the messy facts about folding tubular metal manual wheelchairs. 

FDA records show that almost two dozen cases of finger crushing and amputation have been reported in the last seven years from just one of the nations leading chair manufacturers. 

Here's one report.  Here's another.

Events like this may be seriously underreported to the FDA.  This injury may be truly widespread among wheelchair users. 

Traditional Chair: Poor Design Common to Most Tubular Metal Wheelchairs:

The user sits in a partially opened folding chair and places a hand on the seat support rail.  That's particularly easy to do if the side flips up for transfer.  When he/she sits down, the users weight snaps the seat rail down into the so-called "H bracket" or "stop member" and the full body weight pinches off any body part - like a finger - that is unintentionally placed there.

One manufacturer's response is,  "The (product) guide states following warning:  'keep hands and fingers clear of moving parts to avoid injury. Do not place hand or fingers on the underside of the seat frame when opening or closing the wheelchair.'" 

Traditional Tubular Manual Wheelchair: 
  Finger Crushing Potential Illustrated

We took these photos of a 2007 tubular folding manual wheelchair at a DME establishment to illustrate the crushing/amputation potential inherent in many manual wheelchair designs.

Tubular Manual Wheelchair, Opened for Use
Side rail fits snugly in the stop member

 Same Chair, Not Completely Open 
 Rail above stop member.  Not pushed down  completely or chair twisted.  Easy to make this error


Finger in Opening (Illustrated with Carrot)
With flip-up side raised for transfer it's easy to insert finger in error


Result After Sitting in Chair
Many fingers have been crushed or amputated per FDA data

Merlexi Craft™ Lightweight Plastic Manual Wheelchairs - Designed for Safety:

Well, we can do better.  See Merlexi Craft™ lightweight manual wheelchair fold with no pinch points.

The Merlexi Craft™ lightweight plastic manual wheelchair is designed with a patented, side-hinged, solid seat.  The seat sides do not push up and slam down when the chair is opened.  The hinge opening on the side of the seat is underneath the seat surface and the side rail is designed so that pinch points are not reachable.

The Merlexi Craft Manual Chair is the First Chair Designed to Avoid Crushing of Fingers.

Let Us Know if You Have Been "Pinched" - Or Worse in Your Wheelchair.

Call Us at 502-614-8032 Ask for Dr. Jane or Dr. Matt

See our Product Descriptions