Post-Op Incision and Swelling
Placeholder: early hours after release surgery bring swelling and redness.
- ~2 cm: Typical incision length (Placeholder short note)
- Day 2-3: Swelling peak (Placeholder short note)
- Moderate: Pain level (Placeholder short note)
- Weekly: Dressing change (Placeholder short note)
Immediate post-surgical state
Placeholder: incision closed with sutures, hand wrapped and elevated.
Placeholder: keep hand elevated to reduce swelling early on.
Wound Healing, Weeks One and Two
Placeholder: sutures come out and skin edges seal shut.
- Day 10-14: Suture removal (Placeholder short note)
- Declining: Redness (Placeholder short note)
- ~90%: Wound closure (Placeholder short note)
- Permitted: Light activity (Placeholder short note)
Early epithelialization
Placeholder: skin barrier reforms and infection risk drops.
Placeholder: gentle finger motion supported starting this stage.
Scar Maturation, Weeks Three to Six
Placeholder: scar tissue remodels, flattens, and lightens in color.
- Fading pink: Scar color (Placeholder short note)
- Active: Collagen remodel (Placeholder short note)
- Recommended: Scar massage (Placeholder short note)
- Decreasing: Sensitivity (Placeholder short note)
Collagen remodeling phase
Placeholder: massage and moisturizing help scar flatten faster.
Placeholder: avoid sun exposure on the fresh scar line.
Grip Strength Rebuilding
Placeholder: structured therapy restores hand and grip strength.
- 40-70%: Grip strength (Placeholder short note)
- 2-3x/week: PT frequency (Placeholder short note)
- Improving: Pinch strength (Placeholder short note)
- 6-16: Weeks range (Placeholder short note)
Progressive strengthening
Placeholder: resistance exercises rebuild thenar muscle strength.
Placeholder: consistent therapy compliance speeds recovery.
Full Functional Recovery
Placeholder: grip strength normalizes and activity is unrestricted.
- 90-100%: Grip strength (Placeholder short note)
- Mature, pale: Scar (Placeholder short note)
- Resolved: Symptoms (Placeholder short note)
- ~3-6 months: Timeline (Placeholder short note)
Return to normal function
Placeholder: full grip and pinch strength restored for daily tasks.
Placeholder: most patients resume all activities by month six.