1 year old had surgery to reattach half of his thumb - how long will he have dressing on for?

[NoCapes]

Last week the scariest moment of my life happened when my just turned 1 year old trapped his thumb in a door and the top half of it was dangling off (a partial amputation in Dr speak)
He had surgery the same day to sew it back on and it all went fine

They asked us to go back to the hospital today for a dressing change, and they've asked us to go back for another next week
I asked the nurse a couple of times how many times it'll have to be redressed before it can just come off but she didn't really answer me (she was a bit odd and quite difficult to talk to)

If anyone has had a similar thing happen, how long did your child have a dressing on for?

Cannot help you, but just wanted to send good wishes - what a scary thing to happen! All of us will have had our children squash their fingers in a door and will be thinking There but for the grace and all that. Hope he will be fully mended soon.

Oh Thankyou Blossom
I was absolutely shocked that it came off, it was just your bog standard internal door, not a heavy or steel one or anything, I couldn't believe it actually came off!
He was an absolute trooper though, hardly even cried bless him

😫 op your poor ds! Thank goodness they were able to reattach it

I don't have any advice as such just wanted to send good wishes your way!

Thanks FizzBomb
Yes we were very lucky there was still circulation in it so they could just pop it back together

It is interesting how young children just accept things happening to them - Oh right that is what happens is it?! I am glad he was not too distressed and hope he is not in pain still.

Isn't it, they're so resilient! I'd have been sobbing for days
He isn't in pain now thank goodness
He is getting increasingly frustrated with the huge dressing he's got on though, I'm hoping it won't be too much longer till he gets it off, or at least changed to a smaller one

Your poor DS and poor you having to deal with it! I'm not squeamish in the slightest but I always flap a little when its my DC that are hurt.

There really is no definitive answer to your question. It will be checked and redressed regularly until it is healed enough to not burst open when in use etc. I'd expect it to be a couple of weeks or so though.

wow how scary for you!

it's a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string' question.
if it heals well and doesn't get infected I would say 2-3 weeks.
a little longer if there are scabs (toddler hands are dirty)
good luck

Ah that makes sense slimjim I think I pinned more hope on today because I just wanted the whole thing to be over for him, I maybe wasn't very realistic in my thinking

I'm not squeamish atall but my stomach did flip when I saw it, and the amount of blood that came out of it was ridiculous, my house was like a murder scene and we had to throw his clothes and mine away we were sodden
You just go on autopilot though don't you, I just needed to get him seen to and get it sorted, I didn't think about anything else (poor 5 year old Dd who came with us didn't even have shoes on!)

Sorry X post pink thankyou for the reply
Some of the stitches were still visible today but on the whole it looked quite thumb like, I was pleasantly surprised!
Let's just hope he's a fast healer then I suppose

I think the big bandages come off in about 2-3 weeks from toe to finger transfer, although the smaller bandages are there for a bit longer, but I'd expect your case to be considerably quicker/.

Toe to finger transfer??

Wow your poor son and poor you . Sounds like all will be well tho, good luck!

Urgh, that gave me such a lurch. That must have been a horrific moment for you both. I have no advice to give at all but wanted to give you

Oh your poor baby! Get well wishes to him and to you.

Ah you're all so lovely, thank you all