The most common hand injuries - when to see a doctor?

Author Dr. Anett Lénárt | 2018.10.20.

Minor or major injuries to the hand are common, but what you do afterwards is not always the same. There are situations where even a small problem can become a big problem, and we shouldn't trivialise the situation. Dr. Anett Lénárt hand surgeon shares his advice on hand injuries.

Most common hand injuries

Cut finger

It can happen to anyone, at any time, that you accidentally cuts his finger. It can be with paper, knives, scissors, tins, or really anything sharp. The point is that in all cases, no matter how small the cut, you must take care not to contaminate it! Unfortunately, as a hand surgeon, I have had the misfortune to have had a housewife cut her finger and then proceeded to clean it without a band-aid or gloves, using chemicals that practically bit the wound and caused serious infection.

Hand surgery

It took her several days to see a specialist, and an emergency operation was the only way to save her hand. Lesson learned. a small cut is also an injury, and make those simple precautions, to avoid bigger trouble. If you can't keep it clean because of the conditions, you can tape it down and put on a thin rubber glove for the „dirty work”.

See a specialist for more serious hand injuries

Cut hand

The risk of larger cuts is also higher. An a deep wound on the finger or hand can easily touch a nerve, resulting in loss of sensation, numbness. In such cases it is absolutely necessary to see a doctor, both to ensure proper care and healing of the wound and to clarify and heal the neurological involvement. Do not forget that cutting the nerve fibre can cause complete anaesthesia, which can be the death of a career in certain professions.

Bleeding wound

An important rule is that NEVER hang a bleeding hand! Strongly for bleeding wounds it's OK if a little tighter, but make sure that it lasts longer do not constrict the circulation! After tying, try to resuscitate, upholster the injured limb, to avoid a big loss of blood.

Hand injuries Finger sprain, sprain, fracture

Less bloody, but still dangerous finger sprain, sprain or fracture. These usually occur as a result of sport or an accident. Many injuries occur during sport, for example during a ball game or a bad move. A badly hit hard ball can cause a fracture, so it is not something to be taken lightly. Fortunately, fractures are less common than sprains and strains, but even with the latter complications can occur that can compromise the long-term use of your hands. You may also have a cartilage detachment or ligament tear, which swelling that can only be seen by a specialist, so do not skip the test under any circumstances!

In case of hand injuries, contact us as soon as possible to a hand surgeon or to a trauma surgeon to ensure that your hands stay intact for a long time to come!