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What Causes Discoloration And Cold Sensations In The Fingers And Thumb After A Surgery?
Question: one week after neurosurgery on severly cut arm (stretched back and mended tendons and nerves) fingers and thumb are cold and turning color. Appears to be no or limited blood circulation. What should we do? 2 pictures attached - one of injury before surgery, one of cold, colored finger (some benadine).
Brief Answer:
Both pictures didn't upload-that after surgery is absent!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I will like that you upload the picture after surgery.
However, if these fingers are cold and turning blue, there could be a problem with blood supply. If there is increased pain, this is even more concerning.
Without reviewing the picture and examining the hand, it is difficult to tell whether the blood supply is visibly compromised or not.
The best approach would be to get the surgeon to review, bearing in mind the findings at the time of injury and the surgical intervention.
It may also be necessary to do a doppler ultrasound of the hand to establish the state of blood flow and blood supply.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Ivo Ditah, Internal Medicine Specialist
Both pictures didn't upload-that after surgery is absent!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I will like that you upload the picture after surgery.
However, if these fingers are cold and turning blue, there could be a problem with blood supply. If there is increased pain, this is even more concerning.
Without reviewing the picture and examining the hand, it is difficult to tell whether the blood supply is visibly compromised or not.
The best approach would be to get the surgeon to review, bearing in mind the findings at the time of injury and the surgical intervention.
It may also be necessary to do a doppler ultrasound of the hand to establish the state of blood flow and blood supply.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Ivo Ditah, Internal Medicine Specialist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I am uploading the after surgery picture of her fingers with this transmission. The fingers have been going from cold to normal warm back to cold. The pain increases when they go cold. They have not gotten very blue. She will see a doctor in one week to look at her arm. It could be anyone from the surgery group at the county hospital, not necessarily the one who performed the surgery.
Health ins these days really sucks... It took a week of constant diligence at multiple hospitals after the accident to even get someone to do the surgery... Anyway, thanks for your reply. Please reply to this follow-up / picture. Thanks!
I meant to ask - at what point should we take her to ER if the cold and pain stays constant? Would the fingers turning blue be the 'for sure - go to hospital' indicator?
Health ins these days really sucks... It took a week of constant diligence at multiple hospitals after the accident to even get someone to do the surgery... Anyway, thanks for your reply. Please reply to this follow-up / picture. Thanks!
I meant to ask - at what point should we take her to ER if the cold and pain stays constant? Would the fingers turning blue be the 'for sure - go to hospital' indicator?
Brief Answer:
They are fine!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have reviewed this image. This is fine. Unless the pain is permanent, severe and bluish discoloration constant, there is no need for a precipitated follow-up visit.
Also, the pain/coloration changes are more likely related to positioning than severed blood vessels.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Ivo Ditah, Internal Medicine Specialist
They are fine!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have reviewed this image. This is fine. Unless the pain is permanent, severe and bluish discoloration constant, there is no need for a precipitated follow-up visit.
Also, the pain/coloration changes are more likely related to positioning than severed blood vessels.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Ivo Ditah, Internal Medicine Specialist
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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