Care after your cubital tunnel release
Caring for your wound and surgical dressing
· Keep the surgical dressing on and dry for the first 3 days after surgery.
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· After 3 days, you may remove the outer surgical dressing. Under the outer surgical dressing is a plastic dressing that is waterproof. Leave this plastic dressing in place unless it becomes loose or loses its waterproof seal. You may shower normally once the outer surgical dressing has been removed and let water run over the plastic dressing.
· If the plastic dressing comes loose or if it loses the waterproof seal, remove it. It is still okay to get the area wet in the shower. Just pat it dry before applying a new, clean dressing (a large bandaid or self-adhesive wrap). There will be steri-strips over the wound. Leave these in place until they fall off on their own.
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· Please keep the wound covered until it is no longer tender to the touch and is no longer oozing. Do not apply any lotions/salves/ointments until the skin has completely healed.
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· Avoid prolonged immersion of the surgical area in water (such as tub baths, swimming, hot tubs, and dish washing without gloves) until the wound has sealed.
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· After the skin has healed, it will take some time for the swelling to resolve and the scar to mature. Dr. Williams recommends applying Vaseline or Aquaphor and gently massaging the scar 3-4 times a day for a few minutes at a time to aid in scar tissue breakdown.
Keep the surgical dressing on. Please keep it clean and dry.
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Activity after surgery
· Elevation above the level of your heart will help with pain and swelling. A cold pack may also help. It can be used every 1-2 hours for 20 minutes at a time. Be sure to place a thin towel between the cold pack and exposed skin so that they are not in direct contact.
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· Immediately after surgery, you can use the hand for light activities like eating, shaving, typing, and brushing your teeth. Do not lift more than 2 pounds until the wound has healed. After the wound has healed, you may progress your activity gradually according to your comfort level. Painful activity should be avoided. Pain is your body's way of telling you it is not ready yet for what you are asking of it.
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· A sling is not needed after surgery. In fact, we encourage moving the shoulder, elbow, and hand as it will help prevent stiffness and scar tissue formation.
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Managing your pain after surgery
· Some discomfort is expected after surgery but with the proper pain control measures, the amount of pain you have can be greatly decreased. We recommend Tylenol and Ibuprofen so long as these medications are safe for you. If you do not know whether these medications are safe for you or if you have had a bad reaction to acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) in the past, please discuss with your primary care doctor before taking them.
· If you are able to take these medications safely, we suggest taking Tylenol and Ibuprofen regularly during daylight hours beginning as soon you get home and continuing for at least the first 2-3 days after surgery. After that point, just take these medications as needed. These medications can be taken together and work together to make each other stronger. These medications should not be taken at the same time as other medications containing acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or other NSAIDs. Please refer to the instructions on the bottle for dosing instructions.
Do NOT take more than 3,000 mg Tylenol in 24 hours
Do NOT take more than 2,400 mg of Ibuprofen in 24 hours
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Follow-up care
· You will have a follow-up appointment scheduled with Dr. Williams 10-14 days after surgery to check your healing. If you do not know when this appointment is, please call Dr. Williams’ office to find out.
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When to call your surgeon
· If you experience any fevers, chills, increasing wound drainage, pain that is not controlled, swelling that is not controlled with elevation, or problems with your dressing or wound, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call Dr. Williams’ office.
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