Injury and Infection of the Hand – Part 2
A second way to promote healing of hand injury or infection and to decrease swelling and pain is to splint the hand. Even if there is only soft tissue infection without bony or ligamentous injury, most experts think a splint is helpful.
Unless there is a known fracture or tendon injury, it is usually safe to splint the hand in the neutral position – finger joints at 0 degrees, metacarpophalangeal joints (knuckles) at 70 degrees, and slight extension of the wrist. The hand should stay splinted until the pain and swelling improve when gentle range-of-motion exercises may begin.
Most experts feel that all significant hand injuries or infection should prompt evaluation by an experienced hand surgeon.
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