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TKR cancelled because of wound won't heal! Suggestions?

Posted by ktgirl @ktgirl, Sep 3, 2022

I've been battling an open wound on my thumb for two months. Still isn't healed. I've been going to a wound clinic three times so far. They put iodosorb on it with tegaderm mesh and a bandage over that. My surgery was scheduled next Tuesday and the surgeon cancelled it because of this. I'm glad he is very careful but I don't know what else I can do to get this to heal. I work retail so I'm always working with my hands. I wasn't sure where to post this. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Carol

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 3, 2022

Hi @ktgirl, Sorry to hear they cancelled your TKR but I'm sure you will agree it's better to be safe than sorry. I wasn't too familiar with the tegaderm mesh along with a bandage over it so looked it up. I have had a similar problem with a wound on a finger that just didn't want to heal. I think it was because the band-aid wasn't protecting it during the healing process. I found a hydro seal band-aid that helped keep the wound moist and clean, and allowed it to heal faster. Wondering if this might help protect your thumb while you are working.

--- Have a Stubborn Wound That Just Won't Heal? Here Are 4 Possible Reasons Why: https://www.jnj.com/health-and-wellness/why-is-my-wound-not-healing

Do you think because you have to use your hands while working at your job that is keeping your thumb from healing?

REPLY
1 reply
ktgirl | @ktgirl | Sep 3, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi @ktgirl, Sorry to hear they cancelled your TKR but I'm sure you will agree it's..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi @ktgirl, Sorry to hear they cancelled your TKR but I'm sure you will agree it's better to be safe than sorry. I wasn't too familiar with the tegaderm mesh along with a bandage over it so looked it up. I have had a similar problem with a wound on a finger that just didn't want to heal. I think it was because the band-aid wasn't protecting it during the healing process. I found a hydro seal band-aid that helped keep the wound moist and clean, and allowed it to heal faster. Wondering if this might help protect your thumb while you are working.

--- Have a Stubborn Wound That Just Won't Heal? Here Are 4 Possible Reasons Why: https://www.jnj.com/health-and-wellness/why-is-my-wound-not-healing

Do you think because you have to use your hands while working at your job that is keeping your thumb from healing?

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I think the bandages the wound clinic uses are the same. They adhere right to the wound and seal up all around it. At first I was changing the dressing every day but they want it to stay on for at least three days unless it gets over 50% wet. So I wear a rubber glove on that hand whenever I need to work with anything like food. With the drugs I take for RA I'm sure that doesn't help the healing process. They have an opening for surgery October 11th but I'm not sure it will be healed by then. The strange thing is that I don't even remember cutting my thumb or doing anything to it.
Thanks for the response. I did order some of the bandages the clinic uses but I will check out those hydro-seal ones. They would be good to have on hand.
Carol

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1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Sep 3, 2022
In reply to @ktgirl "I think the bandages the wound clinic uses are the same. They adhere right to the..." + (show)
@ktgirl

I think the bandages the wound clinic uses are the same. They adhere right to the wound and seal up all around it. At first I was changing the dressing every day but they want it to stay on for at least three days unless it gets over 50% wet. So I wear a rubber glove on that hand whenever I need to work with anything like food. With the drugs I take for RA I'm sure that doesn't help the healing process. They have an opening for surgery October 11th but I'm not sure it will be healed by then. The strange thing is that I don't even remember cutting my thumb or doing anything to it.
Thanks for the response. I did order some of the bandages the clinic uses but I will check out those hydro-seal ones. They would be good to have on hand.
Carol

Jump to this post

I would say, after many in-patient surgical procedures, that I would NOT want to do it with an open wound, especially one that is reluctant to heal. No matter how careful hospitals are, people with every kind of illness and infection are there, and bacteria can and does spread. Some of it is VERY difficult to treat. If it accidentally got into your body through your hand, it could end up infecting your new hip, which would be a nightmare.
I hope they can get it to heal before the next opening. Have they suggested a hyperbaric treatment (high oxygen) to speed healing? Or have they suggested reducing your RA meds?
Sue

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1 reply
ktgirl | @ktgirl | Sep 3, 2022
In reply to @sueinmn "I would say, after many in-patient surgical procedures, that I would NOT want to do it..." + (show)
@sueinmn

I would say, after many in-patient surgical procedures, that I would NOT want to do it with an open wound, especially one that is reluctant to heal. No matter how careful hospitals are, people with every kind of illness and infection are there, and bacteria can and does spread. Some of it is VERY difficult to treat. If it accidentally got into your body through your hand, it could end up infecting your new hip, which would be a nightmare.
I hope they can get it to heal before the next opening. Have they suggested a hyperbaric treatment (high oxygen) to speed healing? Or have they suggested reducing your RA meds?
Sue

Jump to this post

They haven't suggested anything other than the iodosorb and tegaderm mesh with the bandage over it. I will see them again on Thursday and she said if it isn't better they would rethink their strategy. I don't know exactly what that means or what choices there are. I'll have to look up that hyperbaric treatment and see what that is like. Thanks for the reply.

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