Post-Op Instructions for Ulnar Nerve Subcutaneous Transposition
Wound Care
- After surgery, your arm will be placed in a bulky soft dressing that goes from your hand to above your elbow. This dressing helps protect the incision site and lessens swelling. Keep the dressing covered with a plastic bag when showering.
- The initial dressing may be removed 5 days after surgery. After this, the patient should keep the wound covered with 4 x 4 gauze pads and a ACE bandage, to be changed daily.
Pain Management
- You will receive a prescription for narcotic pain medicine. Take this medicine only if you need it.
- Be sure to talk with the clinic nurse about how to take your pain medicine. To best manage your pain, you must take your pain medicine the way it was prescribed. Taking the correct dose at the right time is very important.
- If you have uncomfortable side effects from the pain medicine, call the nurse at 206-598-4263.
- Please see “Medications After Surgery” for more instructions.
Driving
- Do not drive if you are taking narcotic pain medicine. It is not safe. The medicine can make you sleepy and delay your reaction time.
- Once you are no longer taking the medicine, you may drive as soon as you can comfortably grip the steering wheel with both hands.
Activity
- Move your fingers often to help prevent stiffness. Try to bend and straighten your elbow, wrist, and fingers completely 5 or 6 times every day, right after surgery.
- Because you won’t be using your arm for your everyday activities, also exercise your shoulder several times a day by raising your arm overhead. This will help lessen stiffness in your shoulder.
- Do not lift or use any object heavier than a pencil until the sutures have been removed.
- You may do some typing or writing right after surgery, but this may be difficult for 3 to 4 weeks because of swelling.
- Elevate your hand as much as possible to lessen swelling, pain, and stiffness.
Follow-up
When you leave the surgery center, you should have a follow-up appointment in Roosevelt Hand Therapy or Eastside Specialty Clinic in Bellevue already set for 10 to 14 days after surgery. At this visit:
- The suture tails will be removed.
- Dr. Huang will see you during your therapy visit
- The hand therapist will teach you exercises to help increase the range of motion of your elbow and wrist, and work on hand strengthening.
Results
Most patients who have ulnar nerve subcutaneous transposition surgery regain full use of their hand, wrist, and elbow. It may take 4 or 5 months to regain full strength. Some of the numbness may persist and not completely go away.