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Post Operative Instructions

We endeavour to make the post operative experience comfortable and anxiety-free for our patients. If you have elective surgery with Melbourne Hand Surgery you will receive written instructions that are specific for you regarding your after surgery care. This page gives general advice and instructions on what to do, what not to do and what you can expect after hand surgery.

Key Instructions

  • Please keep your hand elevated at or above the level of your heart for at least 48 hours after surgery. This reduces swelling, improves pain and speeds your healing. Avoid activities that put you at risk of injuring your hand.
  • You must keep your dressings dry and on until review. Do not change your dressings unless you have been specifically instructed to do so.
  • When showering please place a plastic bag over your dressings and keep your hand elevated. If you need to apply additional tape to secure a loose bandage please do so. Only remove your splint or plaster if you have been specifically instructed to do so by a hand therapist or surgeon.
  • During hand surgery we usually administer local anaesthetic to your hand to minimise pain. Commonly this results in numbness to part of your hand for 6-24 hours. When the local anaesthetic wears off it is common to experience some throbbing, discomfort or pain.
  • Take the pain medications that you have been prescribed so that you are comfortable.
  • If you have minimal pain once the local anaesthetic wears off you do not need to keep taking pain medications.
  • If you have been prescribed antibiotics you should take the course until finished, unless you develop significant side effects (such as vomiting, severe diarrhoea, a significant rash or swelling not related to your hand surgery).
  • We encourage early movement after surgery as this speeds recovery. However, you must not move any joints that are immobilised with a splint unless specifically instructed to do so by your hand therapist and surgeon.
  • Do not smoke. Smoking reduces blood flow to the fingers by 42% and reduces healing.
  • Do not drive until you have been advised that it is safe to do so.

When to Seek Urgent Medical Attention

Symptoms of concern that should encourage you to seek urgent medical attention include severe pain, change of colour of your fingers (purple, blue, white), sudden loss of movement of your hand, bleeding, excessive swelling, overly tight bandage/splint, signs of infection (fever, discharge, offensive odour, increasing pain), and uncontrolled nausea or vomiting.

Contact Us

If you need to contact us during business hours please phone (03) 9427 9596. After hours please phone the mobile number for Dr Tomlinson that is provided on your post operative information sheet – do not SMS.

If you have any questions please ask! Depending on which surgery you have had, you may also find it useful to read about how to manage with one hand out of action.