Postoperative Wound Care Instructions Common Extensor Tendon Debridement

A bulky dressing will be placed on your elbow at the end of your surgery. The incision is approximately 6-10cm in length and will be closed with several sutures (stitches), black in color, which are not absorbable and need to be removed at your post-op follow-up appointment. Please leave your dressing on for at least 48 hours and keep it clean and dry at all times.

After 48 hours, you may remove your surgical dressing. It is okay to get your incision wet during brief showers using gentle fragrant-free soap to cleanse the skin. Do not allow your incision to soak in bath water, hot tubs, lakes, ponds, etc. Allow your incision to dry thoroughly after bathing and cover it with a padded gauze dressing and ACE wrap. Your elbow will be sensitive to pressure/touch and applying an ACE wrap and padding will help cushion the area. Do not lift anything heavier than 1 pound and limit your grasping/pushing/pulling.

If your job requires frequent use of the arm you will be asked to remain off work until your sutures are removed at your first follow-up visit (two weeks from the date of your surgery), at which time your return to work will be discussed with Adam Barnard, Dr. Wilson’s physician assistant.

Bruising on the elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand is common. If you have redness surrounding your incision or non-bloody drainage please send a message through MyChart or contact our office at 270-417-4940.