It can be as simple as a run-in with a table saw, falling on ice or cutting your hand with a knife, but how you react to a wrist or hand injury can be crucial to hand functionality in the end.
Wrist and hand injuries are very common according to Dr. Steven Sanford, a Marshfield Clinic orthopedic hand surgeon.
“Wrist and hand injuries are one of the most frequent injuries that bring people into the emergency department. We cut our hands, bash our hands or fall on our wrists a lot,” Sanford said.
Steps to take in the first five minutes
With wrist and hand injuries, knowing what to do in the first five minutes is crucial:
- Control the bleeding and stabilize. Direct pressure is an important first step. Use a clean cloth or paper towel to apply direct pressure. Do not remove the cloth or paper towel after the pressure has been applied because that slows the clot from forming. Only in extreme circumstances should you put a tourniquet around your arm. If you have a wrist injury, stabilizing it helps reduce pain as you go to the emergency department.
- Get help. It is important that you get help as soon as possible from someone nearby or calling 911. A wrist or hand injury shouldn’t wait until the next day to be evaluated. It is safest if you do not drive yourself to the emergency department.
- Collect anything severed. If the injury included a severed body part, bring it with you to the emergency department. While the severed body part may not be able to be reattached, it may provide other functions such as tissue for skin grafts.
Expectations after the injury
“Depending on the injury, you may not get things back to the way they were, so what you are looking for is maximizing what you are left with,” Sanford said.
If you sever a finger, typically you experience changes in sensation and motion.
If you fracture your wrist, you typically have some degree of stiffness or weakness, but you should get most of your functionality back.
For finger sprains and dislocations, you typically have some leftover tightness or thickness on a permanent basis that should not jeopardize overall function.
If you have questions about hand and wrist injuries, talk with your provider.
For wrist or hand injury help, talk to a Marshfield Clinic Health System provider.
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4 responses to “3 steps to take after a wrist or hand injury”
I started cutting my wrist yeasterday and I can't stop also, I don't know how to hide it from my parents because sooner or later they will see.
Hello,
We strongly recommend stopping immediately and reaching out to a trusted individual for support as soon as you can. Whether it is talking to your parents, a loved one or your doctor – this is recommended to do as soon as possible. There are also numerous free and confidential resources available that are helpful:
If you are in crisis and need help, call this toll-free number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL), available 24 hours a day, every day: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The service is available to everyone. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. You can also visit the Lifeline’s website at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
The Crisis Text Line is another free, confidential resource available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Text “HOME” to 741741 and a trained crisis counselor will respond to you with support and information over text message. Visit http://www.crisistextline.org.
I cut my wrist bone. It is swollen for past two weeks, pain a lot. It seems a vein is also cut
Thank you for reaching out to us, Sahbin.
We contacted Dr. Sanford for his advice and he said that if you are having ongoing functional problems, numbness or decreased/absent movement, following a laceration, he strongly recommends being examined by your primary provider or orthopedic provider.
Hope that helps,
Jake