How to change the dressing for your amputated finger tip
General care
You can get your wound wet with clean, running water. Please do not soak your incision (e.g. baths, washing dishes, pools, hot tubs, lakes, rivers, oceans). If you get it wet, you will need to re-change the dressing that day.
Your wound should be kept clean. Regular washing with soap and water is enough.
Showering
Generally, I advise you to shower daily and to get into the shower with your dressing or bandaids on. Over the time of your shower, the dressing or bandaids will get very wet and will be much easier and less painful to remove after or during your shower. After your shower, pat the wound dry, and put a new dressing on.
The dressing
The dressing you will use is the one that was shown to you in the clinic when we saw you. For most of you, this will be Polysporin and a bandaid (or more than one bandaid). For some of you, this will be Polysporin and a Coban wrap, or gauze. Either way, keep to the dressing you were shown.
Your dressing needs to be changed every day.
Make sure you are using the Polysporin OINTMENT, and not the cream. The cream is water-based and will dry up too fast.
After you take your dressing off, take a look at the wound.
If there is crust or scab starting to form, it means that you need to put a little more Polysporin on it than you did yesterday.
If there is a rim of paper-white skin around your wound, it means you need to put a little less Polysporin on it than you did yesterday.
We want to keep the wound moist because moist wounds heal faster than crusted ones. Also, the crust or scab can be a source of infection, which we would like to avoid. But if we keep it too moist, the healing is also slower. You’ll get the balance right after a few days.
Put a thin layer of Polysporin over the open areas of your finger tip. Don’t glob it on. It’s okay to use your fingers to apply the Polysporin as long as you’ve washed your hands beforehand. Put a new dressing on your finger tip (whether that’s bandaids, gauze or Coban). You’re done for the day unless you get it wet.
Pain control
It is normal to have some pain after this injury. I don’t recommend strong painkillers like opioids because they can give you so much pain control that you can do things that you shouldn’t do with your injury.
You can take both Acetominophen (which is Tylenol) and Ibuprofen (which is Advil) together. If you want to use Naproxen (which is Aleve), do NOT take the Ibuprofen.
Take 2 regular strength Acetominophen (325mg x 2) every 4 hours. You should not take more than 4000mg in 24 hours from any pills that have Acetominophen in them.
Take 2 regular strength Ibuprofen (200mg x 2) every 4-6 hours. You can take up to 600mg if you need the pain control and your stomach will tolerate it.
Please do not take these medications if you have an allergy or have been told by your family doctor not to take them.
Most of your pain will come from swelling. If most of your pain is a throbbing kind of pain, keep your hand elevated higher than your elbow until it gets better.
Things to look out for:
Signs of infection may include redness, tenderness, swelling, drainage, unusual odor, or if the area feels warmer than the rest of your body. You may also have a fever, which is usually a temperature of 38oC (101 oF) or higher. Check your temperature as needed. If any of these signs are present, you may need to go the emergency room. However, try these alternatives first:
If you’re in Sault Ste Marie, call the hospital and ask to speak to the Minor Procedures clinic.
If you’re in Sudbury, call the hospital and ask to speak to the ACU 2 or Ambulatory Care Unit 2 clinic.
Contact your family doctor.
