The actual foot operation oftentimes goes exactly as expected, but a successful surgery is only part of your quest to get back to full health after an injury or similar health issue. One important aspect of recovery that can sometimes get glossed over is wound management following your operation. Once you’re discharged, caring for your surgical site will be on you, and if you don’t manage it properly, problems can develop.
We want to ensure your recovery stays on track, so in today’s blog, we share eight tips for helping your wound site heal as expected after foot or ankle surgery.
Helping An Incision Site Heal
Hopefully your doctor will walk you through some individualized wound management tips, and everything they say should take precedent over what you read online. With that said, don’t be surprised if your doctor recommends any or all of these tips:
Change Your Dressing As Directed – There may be some slight drainage from your wound for the first couple of days, and while that’s expected, that also means that you need to change your bandages as directed to help reduce your risk of an infection. Change your bandages regularly or as often as recommended by your provider.
Wash Your Hands Before Touching The Area – Be sure to wash your hands with soap and warm water before changing your dressing or touching the wound site. This will help to cut down on the likelihood that bacteria can enter the wound site.
Avoid Excessive Touching/Cleaning – We know you want to keep the area clean, but avoid touching the area or changing your dressing more than recommended. More time interacting with the wound site will increase your risk of infection or delayed wound closure.
Keep The Area Dry – Dry wounds heal much faster than wet wounds. Wetness can also serve to soften the incision site and cause it to open back up. Avoid getting the area wet, and follow your doctor’s instructions for showering if you have an incision on your foot.
Don’t Ignore It – Conduct regular checks of the incision site to keep an eye for signs of infection. This doesn’t mean you need to touch the area or even change your dressing, but check on it regularly to look for signs of swelling, redness, major drainage or any other signs of an infection.
Avoid Touching/Poking At Sutures – You may be interested in the look of your scar site, especially if you have significant sutures or staples helping to hold the wound together, but try to resist the urge to touch or feel the site any more than necessary.
Wear Loose Clothing – Wearing loose pants or jeans can make it easier to ensure that your clothes don’t end up irritating the wound site when you’re getting changed.
Call In The Pros When Infections Develop – Contact your surgeon or your medical care team at the first sign that an infection may be brewing. The earlier these are caught and professionally managed, the greater the chance that no long lasting issues develop. Don’t assume that an infection will resolve on its own.