The goalkeeper's fear of the nets

The soccer goalkeeper is particularly prone to injuries of the hands. We report three cases in which soccer goal-posts were the cause of a hitherto unrecorded type of accident, which resulted in severe ring avulsion injuries requiring surgical amputation or replantation. In each case the injury occurred when a ring worn by the goalkeeper caught on one of the hooks by which the netting is attached to the goal-posts. Proposals made for the prevention of such injuries include increased awareness through education, discouragement of the wearing of rings during sporting activities and the redesign of the attachment systems of goal nets.