[Ellaq]

Anyone been in this situation?

2 weeks ago my toddler had an accident that saw his index finger being mostly amputated, it was hanging on my a small bit one side. The surgeon said there was no hope for it and wanted to amputate down to the first knuckle. However someone more senior overruled it and the finger was grafted back on after 14 hours.

It looks gross right now but apparently it is what it should look like. It is healing better on one side than the other though. There is puss on one side. I am finding it hard to get answer from the hospital as I guess anything could happen and they don't want to commit too much. So I keep going back and seeing what happens. Today the doctor mentioned that the finger can take well for the first few weeks but around week 4-5 it can change and then they would amputate.

If infection sets in how will I know, will it be very painful. How can I tell the difference between the pain from the nerves reconnecting and the finger getting feeling to the pain of an infection. We are using painstop but he doesn't seem to be in much pain at all so we reduced his dosage a little. He does however get very stressed when he sees his finger and I would guess that this would remind him of the accident. So we are to only see then once per week and the bandage stays on and my biggest fear is infection.

[Leafprincess]

Sorry to hear what's happened to the little one.

I have seen documentaries where there use medical grade maggots to eat the dead flesh to prevent infection.

Also using leeches to restore blood flow.

[Ellaq]

Well they didn't offer us those options.

He is also not on antibiotics anymore either. My fear is not being able to tell when an infection sets in and leaving it too late to save his finger.

[soontobegran]

So sorry about the awful accident but so lucky there was a surgical team who decided to work on it.
I imagine they would have given your little one heavy duty antibiotics during and post surgery that will reduce the chance of post op infection.
If there is infection there is usually increased pain so it is a good sign that he is not complaining and you are able to reduce the analgesia. The pus you can see may well just be from the surface around the sutures which does not mean it is deep seated.
Unfortunately they can not commit which is why they can't really predict what they outcome will be but I am sure they will do everything they can to save the finger.
Wishing you every good luck.

[Mercurial]

Increased pain, I imagine he would be fussier and probably also an increase in temperature or a change to his behaviour - like fussier or worrying over the finger more.

So sorry this happened to your little one. Fingers crossed it all heals well.

I'm sure the medical team are doing all that's needed for the best chance of a full recovery.

[*kat*]

Hi OP

I know this is an old thread... but my son pretty much amputated part of his little finger in the front door the other day (tiny bit of skin attached).

How did your son's finger go?

Would appreciate any advice on how you went with it all.

Thank you

Katrina