Wound Care
- Your arm will be covered with a large bulky bandage
- Keep this bandage completely dry for 24 hours
- Remove this bandage 24 hours after surgery
- Keep incision and your hand clean and dry
- Wash with soap and water, dry with towel
- You may wash your arm but do not immerse arm in water
- Do not use any lotions or creams
- The incision should be left uncovered
- You will have sutures or staples in your arm; please do not remove or manipulate them
General Instructions
- Keep your arm clean
- You may shower, unless otherwise instructed
- Do not swim or immerse the incision in water
- Do not smoke cigarettes or use nicotine products
- Eat a well balanced diet
- Avoid using the arm that had surgery
- Avoid bending your arm
- Do not sleep with arm in bent position
- Avoid pressure on the surgical area
- Driving may be difficult, only drive if you are comfortable
- No strenuous or contact sports
- You will be given a prescription for pain medication; this medication should last until your return visit
- You may only require Tylenol for pain relief
Call Dr. McMorrow if any of the following occur
- You develop a fever (temperature greater than 101.5), chills, nausea, vomiting
- Your incision is red or starts to drain fluid
- Your incision is excessively painful
- You are concerned that something is wrong or do not understand activity restrictions
Return Visit
- You will be seen in clinic 2 weeks after your surgery
- Call office if you do not have 2 week follow up visit scheduled
- Bring all your medications to follow up visits