Hand Surgery Post-Operative Instructions

Instructions

Have someone drive you home after surgery and help you at home for 1-2 days.
Get plenty of rest.
Follow balanced diet.
Decreased activity may promote constipation, so you may want to add more raw fruit to your diet, and be sure to increase fluid intake.
Take pain medication as prescribed. Do not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin unless approved by your surgeon.
Do not drink alcohol when taking pain medications.
Even when not taking pain medications, no alcohol for 3 weeks as it causes fluid retention.
If you are taking vitamins with iron, resume these as tolerated.
Do not smoke, as smoking delays healing and increases the risk of complications.

Start walking as soon as possible, this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots.
Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications (narcotics).
No heavy lifting.
Unless stated on this form, discuss your time off work with your surgeon.

Avoid exposing scars to sun for at least 12 months.
Always use a strong sunblock, if sun exposure is unavoidable (SPF 30 or greater).
If you have a soft dressing, it will remain on x 3 days (this may vary with surgeons).
Keep incisions clean and inspect daily (after the 3rd day) for signs of infection.

If you are in a cast or a splint, it is to remain on until your post op appointment
May have mild to severe pain following surgery.
Recovery may take months.
Your doctor may recommend rehabilitation under the direction of a trained hand therapist. Therapy may include hand exercises, heat and massage therapy, electrical nerve stimulation, traction, splints and special wrappings to control swelling.

If you have increased swelling or bruising.
If swelling and redness persist after a few days.
If you have increased redness along the incision.
If you have severe or increased pain not relieved by medication.
If you have any side effects to medications; such as, rash, nausea, headache, vomiting.
If you have an oral temperature over 100.4 degrees.
If you have any yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice a foul odor.
If you have bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control with light pressure.
If you have loss of feeling or motion.

(734) 998-6022, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
After hours and on weekends, call Hospital Paging at (734) 936-6267 and ask for the Plastic Surgeon on call.