What to Expect:
Hand Surgery
After the surgery, your child will most often have a cast in place to cover and protect the surgical site. In small children, a long-arm cast is used because short arm casts come off very easily in these patients. The dressing should be kept completely dry and clean. It is usually best to sponge bathe your child rather than to use a bathtub while the dressing is in place. The hand should be elevated above the level of the heart at least for the first three days after surgery. This is very important to allow the swelling to decrease and to minimize pain after surgery.
You will be given a prescription for pain medication and for antibiotics to give your child after surgery. If your child has pain that is not relieved with the pain medicine and elevation of the hand, please contact us. Also, if the dressing gets wet, develops an odor, or if your child has a fever above 101.5 degrees Celsius, please contact us.