Post Hand Surgery Information Sheet

Post Hand Surgery - Advice & Exercises

2015 PDF 162 KB

Post Hand Surgery Advice - Major Hand Surgery

2015 PDF 108 KB

Pain relief and Anaesthetic

• Local anaesthetic has been injected around the site of the operation; this area & the nearby fingers will remain numb for up to 10 hours after surgery
• Please take some pain relief early, before the effect of the anaesthetic wears off. Take this regularly for the next few days

Swelling & Stiffness

• Elevation of the hand will prevent swelling and stiffness
• Please do not walk with your hand dangling or sit with your hand in your lap for the next week or two
• Use a sling for today and tomorrow if you feel it is comfortable
• After this, It is fine to lower your hand to use it for light activity and elevate it at other times
• Normal light activities are good for your hand 

Dressings

• The dressing may be removed at 7 days after surgery
• There will be some bruising and swelling
• Once the dressings are removed it is safe to get the hand wet in the bath or shower, pat gently dry
• If the skin is dry then briefly immerse the whole hand in warm water with a small amount of baby oil
• The stitches are dissolving and should fall after 2-3 weeks

Scarring

• The scar can be massaged when healed – usually beginning about 2 weeks
  • Use a plain, unscented moisturizer, Vitamin E cream or Bio-oil type product
  • 5 minutes twice a day
• Once healed the scar may become lumpy, firm, tender and pink
• With massage this should settle over 3 – 6 months

Driving

• You cannot drive in a splint
• Otherwise you may drive if you are comfortable and have regained FULL finger movements and are COMFORTABLE to control the vehicle with sufficient power 

Things to watch out for…

• INFECTION
  • Increasing pain, swelling, redness, discharge from the wound
• PROLONGED CHANGE IN SENSATION
  • Persistent change of sensation in an area of the hand once the local anaesthetic wears off
• PROGRESSIVE, PAINFUL OR ITCHY SCARS
  • Scars that despite massage become progressively more swollen and tender, itchy and red
• CHRONIC PAIN & SWELLING IN THE HAND
  • Worsening pain, out of proportion to what you expect

Exercises

• Help with swelling and stiffness
• Should be performed every 4 hours during the day until the hand is back to normal