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Medical Author:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Next Steps

Follow-up

Bandages

• Follow the doctor's instructions for bandage changes.
  
  
• The doctor may want the patient to clean and dress the wound daily or may tell the patient to leave the bandages in place until they are rechecked in the office.

Splints

• Do not remove a splint unless the doctor specifically says you can.
  
  
• Certain injuries must be immobilized in a specific position in order to heal properly.
  
  
• Some splints are damaged by water and should not get wet. Ask the doctor whether water will damage the splint.

Antibiotics

• If the patient is prescribed antibiotics, be sure to take the full course of medication even if there is no sign of infection.

Follow-up

• Follow-up is critical to monitor the progress of the patient's recovery.
  
  
• Keep follow-up appointments as directed, even if the patient feels fine.
  
  
• The doctor will tell the patient about when to rest the injured area, and when and what activity to start to prevent or reduce stiffness.