After your operation

After your surgery you will usually have a large wool and crepe bandage on your hand.  Sometimes, depending on the operation, you will also need a plaster cast.

In most cases we ask your practice or district nurse kindly to help reduce the dressing after 48 or 72 hours.  At this stage you can normally have a simple sticky dressing over the wound.  

We ask you to keep the wound clean and dry initially. You can get it in running water after five days.

If you do not have dissolving stitches the stitches usually need to be taken out 12 to 14 days after the surgery. 

If you are having surgery for Dupuytren's disease the dressing will normally be changed when you come to the physio and dressings clinic.

If you have a plaster cast on we shall give details of follow up.