Wounds

Hand wounds are very frequent due to accidents at home or in the workplace and represent at least 1/3 of hand accidents.

Symptoms (depending on the severity of the wound):

Pain, bleeding (sometimes abundant given the good vascularization of the extremities), pins and needles, inability to bend or extend the finger, pale finger(s), redness (if the wound is infected)…

In the case of an emergency:

• Wash the wound with warm water
• Compress for 15 minutes (do not use a garotte!)
• Desinfect the wound
• Put on a simple band-aid
• Remove the rings on the injured hand
• Fast (no food or water) until the diagnostic is confirmed
• Check that the tetanus vaccinations are up to date

When to consult:

Emergency consultations with a specialist are almost always necessary as even wounds that don’t look serious can lead up to serious nerve or tendon lesions. Their detection requires a meticulous consultation or even a surgical exploration.

The risk of infections increases the need for precautions (disinfection, washing ….), especially in case of dirty wounds or bites.

Will an intervention be necessary?

Any wounds related to a noble element (articulation, nerve, tendon, artery ..) justifies a surgical exploration that will be performed under local anaesthesia in the emergency department.

Any repair will be done in the operating room. Depending on the degree of soiling and the type of element damaged, the closed wound will be immobilized and entrusted to the surgeon’s hand with variable time.