• Any local anaesthetic / “block” will wear off in 8 – 12 hours (occasionally longer)
• Take the prescribed pain killers at regular intervals and do not skip doses
• Take Vitamin C (500mg) once a day for 50 days. This reduces the risks of complications

• No smoking to allow healing
• Keep the visible / unbandaged parts of your limb moving regularly to avoid stiffness in remaining parts
• Keep yourself as mobile and active as possible
• Stay well hydrated, with good nutrition
• Avoid alcohol due to interactions with medications and risk of injury
• Perfect diabetic control if appropriate

If you experience bleeding, tightness, excessive swelling, excessive pain or any signs of infection, please contact Mr. Grieve’s office at 01 969 6543 from Monday to Friday 08.00-17.30 or Blackrock Clinic at any time at 01 283 2222. Alternatively go directly to your local emergency department for emergency treatment, and request that they contact Mr. Grieve as soon as possible.

Keep arm elevated above the heart (30cm) for at least three days or until the operation site no longer throbs. Throbbing pain should stop after 3-5 days

• Remove the bulky bandage in 72 hours and leave sticking plaster on.
• Keep all dressings in situ until you are seen at the follow-up appointment that has been arranged
• Keep your dressing clean and dry, avoid activity that may disturb or aggravate the area.

Follow up will be arranged by physiotherapy or Mr. Grieve’s office. You will be contacted with date and time in due course. You may need an x-ray on the day of your post-op appointment, this may need to be done with the splint/cast removed. You will be informed before time.

• Do keep moving the parts of the limb you can see (i.e. not in cast).
• Do keep the rest of the limb mobile.
• Do elevate the affected limb as directed.
• Do use the sling (or crutches) as advised.
• Do rest with your limb raised on a pillow or othersoft surface for the first 72 hours and after this ifthe plaster feels snug. This will help reduce swelling. The higher the better.
• Do take regular pain relief as prescribed.
• Do contact your GP (or Mr Grieve) if you require further pain killers or a repeat prescription.

• Do not wear jewellery on the affected limb.
• Do not wet the cast – it may cause infection if there is a wound under the cast.
• Do not put any objects inside the cast (even if it is itchy) as this may cause a wound under the cast.
• Do not interfere with the cast in any way.
• Do not remove the cast yourself – you could cause an injury.

• Your plaster feels too tight and there is a lot of swelling, pain, tingling or numbness of your fingers or toes.
• You notice any unpleasant discharge or smell coming from the cast, or any areas of broken skin that has been caused by the cast rubbing your skin.
• You are suddenly unable to move fingers or toes.

• Your plaster becomes cracked, wet or damaged in any way.
• Your plaster feels too loose.