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Medical Author:

Kevin Aston, DO

Coauthor:

Michael Doyle, DO

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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The patient needs to understand the doctor's instructions completely and ask any questions needed to thoroughly understand care at home.

• If the patient has been prescribed antibiotics for a finger infection, he or she must follow the directions and take them for the prescribed time period.
• Often the doctor will instruct the patient to keep the hand elevated to prevent swelling. This is important and needs to be done both during the day and night. The hand can remain elevated by placing pillows under the hand while sleeping.
• Wound care will often need to be continued at home. This may include daily warm water soaks, dressing changes, and application of antibiotic ointment. The different types of wound care are extensive. The doctor should explain home-care in detail.
• The finger or hand may be placed in a splint. This provides both immobilization and protection. It will be important to follow the instructions regarding the care of the splint. The patient will need to protect and properly care for the splint. The finger and hand should be closely monitored to watch for complications such as swelling or infection under the splint.
• The patient may be asked to return to the doctor's office in 24-48 hours. This may be necessary to remove packing or change a dressing. It is very important that close follow-up care is taken to monitor the progress or identify any further problems.

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