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Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "

Case study ( 6399 views as of November 21, 2024 )

Jenn is a 37-year-old who was cleaning up after a party in her home. She reached into the dishwasher without realizing that a wine glass had broken, and cut her hand between her thumb and index finger.

It initially bled a fair bit, but she was able to stop the bleeding in a few minutes with some direct pressure from an available dish towel. She bandaged it up with some gauze and cling wrap from her first aid kit at home, thinking that it wasn’t going to require any stitches. Later that evening though, she became concerned when she noticed blood soaking through the dressing, and realized that she had some numbness to the side of her index finger.

When such injuries occur, one should consider the possibility of injuries to underlying structures. Jenn could consider calling 811 (the Nurse Advice Line), going to an Urgent Care Clinic or the closest Emergency Department. Once a full assessment has been completed, Jenn may be referred to a plastic surgeon, hand physiotherapist or bracing and support specialist. A First Aid Supply Store, Medical Supply Store and/or pharmacy may carry many of the products she could use to manage the injury.

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Conversation based on: Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "

Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "

  • Mr. Jackson Sayers BSc.,
    Mr. Jackson Sayers BSc., Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC 08 July 2023
    If you develop symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and your diagnosis has been confirmed by your family physician, additional tests such as a nerve conduction study may be recommended to assess the degree of nerve slowing. However, not all doctors require a positive nerve test to make the diagnosis if you have classic symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. In the early stages of the disease, your physician may recommend wearing a brace at nighttime to keep your wrist in a straighter position. They may also advise you to avoid extreme wrist positions during the daytime, such as extension or flexion, especially during work or activities that involve prolonged gripping. Anti-inflammatories may be prescribed to help alleviate symptoms, and in some cases, cortisone injections into the carpal canal may provide temporary relief. It's important to understand that carpal tunnel syndrome is a progressive condition that can worsen over time. While allied health professionals can help manage symptoms and potentially delay the need for surgery, if you experience daily symptoms and find that conservative measures are no longer effective, it may be advisable to consult with a surgeon who specializes in carpal tunnel syndrome. Surgical treatment aims to release the tight ligament causing the compression in the carpal tunnel. There are two main techniques: the traditional approach involves making a small incision over the ligament and cutting it, while the endoscopic approach involves using a camera to cut the ligament from the inside of the tunnel. Both techniques have similar outcomes. If you suspect you have carpal tunnel syndrome, it is recommended to seek attention from your family doctor for confirmation of the diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
    Reply to: Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "
  • Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP
    Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP 08 October 2015
    I would assume getting checked for small shards of glass would be a good idea in a deep cut. If you didn't see the glass break, it would be hard to see if it was a clean break or if any small shards were present when her hand touched the glass.
    Reply to: Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "
    • K. Michael
      K. Michael 14 October 2015
      That's a good point Michelle. Generally when glass breaks we're forever picking up tiny slivers. It would make sense to have a laceration looked at to make sure there isn't anything inside
  • K. Michael
    K. Michael 08 October 2015
    A cut or laceration between your fingers must be one of the worst places to get one. Not only does it hurt more but they seem to take longer to heal
    Reply to: Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "
    • Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP
      Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP 08 October 2015
      They definitely seem to take longer to heal since it's right in that space that is difficult to bandage up and is always getting stretched to re-open the wound.
  • Joy
    Joy 01 April 2015
    Does the amount of bleeding indicate the severity of the cut or is the length of time it bleeds the better indicator?
    Reply to: Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "
    • K. Michael
      K. Michael 06 September 2015
      During first air training we were told to follow this general rule of thumb: if the wound bleeds excessively, if it is deeper than a 1/4 inch, if it is longer than 1 inch, wounds on the face. You should also have a doctor look at wounds on or near a joint
    • ShirleyG
      ShirleyG 23 August 2015
      How do you know when stitches are needed ?
    • K. Michael
      K. Michael 31 July 2015
      I think it's a little of both. If a laceration bleeds for an extended period of time and / or a wound seems to be bleeding excessively rather than sluggishly , it could require medical attention.
  • Joy
    Joy 01 April 2015
    What makes the numb feeling?
    Reply to: Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "
    • ShirleyG
      ShirleyG 23 August 2015
      If there is damage to nerves or tendons, what would next steps be ? Can the damage be reversed ?
    • K. Michael
      K. Michael 15 July 2015
      It could indicate that the wound is more than just a surface laceration and there might be damage to the nerves / muscles / tendons etc.
  • ShirleyG
    ShirleyG 27 January 2015
    How does one know how severe a wound is ? A delayed reaction of bleeding may have you believe it is a small cut and nothing is wrong ?
    Reply to: Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "
    • K. Michael
      K. Michael 08 March 2015
      Generally if a wound continues to bleed an hour after injury you should seek further treatment. Numbness or a "cold" feeling around the wound are also indicators to seek medical assistance
  • Yuan Lew, MSc MBA
    Yuan Lew, MSc MBA 11 December 2014
    It's not usually a specialist to see after a hand laceration or injury, but a hand physiotherapist can help with regaining hand flexibility and function. My husband broke a finger a few years ago and his physiotherapist helped him regain finger function.
    Reply to: Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "
    • K. Michael
      K. Michael 17 December 2014
      Good point. The article mentions she was experiencing some numbness to the side of the finger. This could mean she has nerve damage. A hand specialist would help with the healing process
  • Bernadette van der Boom-Bebb
    Bernadette van der Boom-Bebb 06 December 2014
    Drinking alcohol and some medications can delay clotting and result in bleeding for a longer period of time. When seeing a physician about a wound that won't stop bleeding, try to recall all of the medication you've recently taken.
    Reply to: Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "
    • Healthymama
      Healthymama 28 January 2015
      I believe fish oils act as blood thinners as well.
    • K. Michael
      K. Michael 06 December 2014
      Are there foods that interfere with the body's ability to clot wounds ?
  • stravers82
    stravers82 03 December 2014
    Sounds like this wound was deep and would require medical attention, possibly stitches
    Reply to: Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "
  • K. Michael
    K. Michael 03 December 2014
    Numbness could indicate that she nicked a nerve. Cuts in the space between the thumb and index finger always seem to take longer to heal because of how much movement is in that area
    Reply to: Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "
  • K. Michael
    K. Michael 28 November 2014
    It's very easy to think an injury will be fine when in fact it requires medical attention
    Reply to: Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "
  • Yuan Lew, MSc MBA
    Yuan Lew, MSc MBA 26 November 2014
    While everyone should learn the basics of aseptic techniques to treat wounds and injuries, Dr. Taylor makes an important point about bleeding. First priority is to stop the bleeding and to get medical attention for a wound that hasn't stopped bleeding or is considered to be serious. For minor wounds, keep it clean after the bleeding has stopped and monitor to see if it is healing well.
    Reply to: Acute Hand Laceration " Jenn is a 37-year-old who cut her thumb and index finger "
    • Healthymama
      Healthymama 28 January 2015
      What is a "normal" amount of bleeding after an injury like this?

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