Anthony Barabás Plastic and Hand Surgeon.com
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Hand Trauma

Are hand injuries common?
Hand injuries are common and can account for up to 25% of attendances to accident and emergency. Hand injuries are very variable in nature,from very minor to possibly career or life-changing.

What should I do when I injure my hand?
The combination of elevating your hand/arm and immediate pressure on the wound should be enough to stop most bleeding. In the UK tap water is very clean. Running your hand wound under a tap water can removed any debris and reduce the chance of infection. You should then dress your hand with a clean dressing, or a clean cloth or paper if this is all that is available. Cling film is useful for burns or similar wounds. In most instances you will then need to make your way to the nearest accident and emergency department. Here the wound can be properly explored, cleaned and assessed. If you are not up to date with your tetanus (not immunised or not had a tetanus booster in the last 10 years) you may need a tetanus booster. The wound will be dressed and antibiotics may be provided depending on the injury.

What happens next?
Only a few hand injuries require immediate surgical attention. Once cleaned and dressed (and possibly also with antibiotics) most hand injuries can wait for up to five days (as per 2007 BSSH working party report) until both a hand surgeon and an appropriate operating list are available. Some injuries can wait longer, for instance fractures in which the skin remains intact.

Can I go privately?
You may not need to, even if you have private insurance. If you are attending Hinchingbrooke hospital emergency department, and if I have availability on an operating list on the same day, then there will be no benefit in terms of having your surgery any sooner. If your injury means that you require immediate surgery, or if you have injuries to other parts of you body, you are normally best served by remaining under the NHS.
Small print: The information on this page is provided by way of general background and is not a diagnosis or recommendation of a particular course of treatment in any specific circumstance. Results may vary from person to person. If you would like information about your particular circumstance or to discuss treatment options, please contact me. My contact details are here.