After your surgery · Nicholas Genovese, M.D.
Splint and cast care
How to protect your splint or cast and your skin underneath.
Your surgical team’s instructions come first. If this page differs from the printed instructions you received, call (858) 560-0242 before changing wound care, splint use, exercises or activity.
Keep it clean and dry
- Do not get the splint or cast wet. Cover it completely with a waterproof bag or a cast cover to shower, and keep it out of the water.
- If it gets wet, cracks, softens, loosens or shifts, call the office.
- Do not trim, remove or adjust a plaster splint or cast yourself.
Protect your skin
- Do not put anything inside the splint or cast to scratch, including pencils, coat hangers or lotions. Scratching can break the skin and cause an infection.
- Check the skin around the edges every day for redness, blisters or sores.
If it feels too tight
- Elevate the hand above your heart for 30–60 minutes and move your fingers.
- If it still feels tight, you may unwrap and loosely rewrap the outer elastic (ACE) wrap. Do not remove the hard plaster underneath.
- If your fingers stay cold, blue, white or numb, call the office immediately.
Removable splints
- Wear a removable splint exactly as your surgeon or therapist told you. Remove it only for the hygiene and exercises you were cleared to do.
When to call the office
Call the office at (858) 560-0242 immediately if you have any of the following:
- Fever above 101.0 °F or chills
- Redness, warmth or red streaks spreading from the incision
- Drainage from the incision, especially cloudy or bad-smelling drainage
- Pain that is getting worse or is not controlled by your medicines
- New or worsening numbness, tingling or weakness
- Fingers that turn blue, white or cold, or stay very swollen after elevating your hand for an hour
- A splint or wrap that still feels too tight after you loosen the outer elastic wrap and elevate your hand
- Bleeding that soaks through the dressing
If you cannot reach us and the problem is urgent, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for chest pain, trouble breathing, or new calf pain or swelling.
About these instructions
These instructions are general guidelines for patients of Nicholas Genovese, M.D. Your surgeon may change your plan based on your surgery and how you are healing. If anything here differs from what your surgeon or therapist told you, follow their instructions, and call the office before changing any activity, splint use or therapy.