This is topic Medicos or others... fingertip amputation. in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
 
Hi folks. Last weekend my husband lost the tip of his left ring finger in a very unusual racquetball accident. They sewed it back on in the ER, and he met with a reconstructive surgeon two days ago so they could check on the progress. Since then we've been doing the twice-daily cleaning and bandage-changing, antibiotics, etc.

I've looked all over google, but can't figure out how to find what I'm looking for, so I'm hoping someone here happens to know... what should a healing fingertip amputation look like after 4 or 5 days? It looks awful, it's still seeping blood, the tip is a very dark purple, and smaller at it's base than the part it's connected to, making it look like it's not very attached... how on earth can I find out if this is normal or not? I'll probably call the doctor tomorrow, but our next appointment isn't until Monday, and if I over-react and bring us in early, I risk running out of visits that are covered by insurance.

Oi, I'm so bad at this. Many thanks for any help.
 

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Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
 
Is it hot and purple?

I thought I remember hearing/reading recently that fingertip reattachment success rates are lower that other reattachment surgery. If I remember the story correctly, they usually need at least two knuckles otherwise there just isn't the blood supply needed.

Though you might see if any of the local docs here have access to the full article here. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1742-4801.2005.00153.x
 

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Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
 
Ouch. I hope it gets better quickly. Good luck.
 

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Posted by RyanINPnet (Member # 8363) on :
 
I am sorrry for your husband. I hope he recovers soon.

If you don't mind my asking...how did that happen? I play raquetball on an almost daily occurence...?
 

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Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
 
Sometimes they use leeches to draw the blood into the fingertip.
http://rnweb.com/rnweb/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=103342#1
 

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Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
 
Thanks everyone. I'll call the doctor today and see if they can tell me if I'm over-reacting or not.

It happened when he was going to the back wall to return a shot, he put his hand up to stop his momentum, and the finger managed to get jammed into the tiny, tiny little crack of the glass door's hinge. When he pulled it out, part of the finger was left behind. Very unusual, for sure.
 

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Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
 
Oh, man.
 

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Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
 
Okay! We did end up going out for the routine "wife is over-reacting" appointment today, and they say it's looking fine. The tip is attaching and everything, and it'll be weeks before it starts to return to a normal color. The sutures may come out as early as Monday. Whew!! Thanks again everyone for your support! This is just way more than I've ever dealt with before.
 

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
Zeugma, you didn't over-react. You were faced with a medical situation you didn't understand, you were worried about something, calling the docotr and going to see him was the right thing to do.

I hope things continue to go well for your hubby.

The whole leech thing fascinates me. Squicks me out as well, but it's still fascinating.
 

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Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
 
Zeugma, I'm sorry about your husband's finger.

If I'd seen this earlier I might have been able to reassure you a little. My brother-in-law lost the tip of his thumb to a table saw, and his thumb looked like it should be on a zombie for weeks.

I'm glad everything's going well.
 

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Posted by Lalo (Member # 3772) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Zeugma:
Thanks everyone. I'll call the doctor today and see if they can tell me if I'm over-reacting or not.

It happened when he was going to the back wall to return a shot, he put his hand up to stop his momentum, and the finger managed to get jammed into the tiny, tiny little crack of the glass door's hinge. When he pulled it out, part of the finger was left behind. Very unusual, for sure.

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