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Surgical nerve repair can restore sensation and movement to the hand and fingers and must be done promptly to minimize long-term damage. These types of complex hand nerve surgery is typically done within a week of injury for the best results. If surgery cannot be completed immediately, they may stitch the wound closed temporarily to minimize additional damage and protect the wound from infection. They can repair both the tendons and nerves in the hand. While some nerve injuries can heal on their own, for the most severe cuts, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in complex nerve reconstruction can be critical to recovery. When a cut is particularly deep, you are more likely to have damaged the tendons and nerves in your hand and require hand nerve surgery. If you have signs of infection, visit your doctor as they may need to prescribe topical or oral antibiotics. Whether you get stitches or not, it’s always a good idea to watch for prolonged swelling, redness or discharge, all of which could be sign of an infection. If you do need stitches, your doctor will let you know how long they will be in and if you need to return to their office to have them removed. Stitches promote better healing, reduce bleeding and the chance of infection and minimize scars.
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Stitches are also often needed if the edges of the cut are ragged or the wound has any foreign particles in it. It’s best to see a doctor if you’re concerned. If it’s deep, more than half an inch long, or is wide enough that it doesn’t come together with light pressure, stitches might be needed. Whether or not you need stitches depends on the length, depth and nature of the cut. This may include stitches or surgery.Įven with a small or less serious cut, you should be sure to wash the area thoroughly and bandage to minimize the chance of infection, and then you may still need stitches. If your cut is serious, an emergency room or urgent care team will likely recommend an orthopedic hand specialist to evaluate the damage and determine the best course of treatment. In these cases, you may need immediate attention to stop blood loss and save nerves and tendons from serious or permanent damage. You should always get immediate medical attention for a cut if you cannot stop the bleeding, if you’ve lost feeling around the area that is cut, or if the cut is big enough or deep enough that you cannot bring the edges back together when pressing lightly. Whether you’ve cut your hand on an avocado or doing something else entirely, it’s important to know when you should get medical care. It’s so common that it’s been dubbed “avocado hand” and can be a minor cut or call for major hand nerve surgery if you sever tendons or nerves. If you’ve cut your hand while slicing or pitting an avocado, you’re not alone! Did you know that avocados are responsible for about 24 hospital visits per day across the country? Technically, it’s not the avocado’s fault, but as the fruit (Yes! It is a fruit!) has risen in popularity, so have knife-related hand injuries.
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