Question (urgent) for Those Experienced in Backcountry First Aid

I would do the trip.

The wound is closed, and relatively easy to manage from an infection control standpoint.

The splint is critical to protect the finger since you’ve lost tendon function for now. Your med kit additions look good.

Trekking pole use will be fine. If doing any bushwhacking / off-trail requiring use of hands, consider a leather work glove as well, sized to fit over the splint.

Thanks for the quick feedback, Ryan.  Given your extensive experience and typical abundance of caution, your recommendation to go is comforting.

You seem to have thought it through carefully.  Looks like the toughest/no-bail section is late in the trip so you’ll have a good idea how risky it is by then.  If it were me:  unless it hinders me from doing the chores I need to do or hurts so much it might ruin my fun, I’d do the hike.  Best wishes.

Thanks, Todd

It’s going to hurt either way. May as well go.

Couple of things:

1. Two medical professionals have already given the go-ahead, including the attending.
2. You have a treatment plan AND a scheduled correction already in the works.
3. You’re clearly concerned about the injury and taking it seriously.

I see no reason to bail, given that you follow the directions given. Infection risk is very low, and unless you don’t follow the current treatment plan you’re at low risk for complications.  Literally nobody on this forum is in any position to contradict or parse the verdict of an attending physician that has already seen you, treated you, and gotten a second from the intended.

In other words: this isn’t the time to second-guess, so don’t throw that fear in the pack with your gear.

Doctors and Plastic Surgeons usually err on the side of caution- if they said ok, then it’s ok to go. (Im a physio).

You might find it easier to protect the finger and use the hand if you ‘buddy tape’ that finger to the next one (with the splint on)  – but that is a test-and-see situation. Might be too uncomfortable with the splint. When I’ve hurt my hand, I find it easier to have my hand on top of my walking pole.

Have a great time!

Thanks everyone, for the thoughtful comments!

I agree, and I’m going for it.  At the least it will make for some wacky pictures pointing out the sites.

This question was more of a measure twice cut once approach (I should have thought of that the first time…)

I cut a tendon on the back of my hand. Just a little nick, hardly bled. I lost the full range of my finger. When I tried to point, it was more of an unwanted gesture. Be careful.

Sorry to hear this! I severed the tendon on my middle left finger. Not so much fun, but the Ortho Doc got it put back together. Definitely use the splint!

Personally, I’d avoid antibiotics. Not needed and will absolutely screw up your gut microbiome… you’re well on your way to healing, why would you want to use them?

I”d only take one pole, staff, or use a cane rather than two trekking poles. I think you’ll protect your finger better without trying to grip an additional pole.

Have a wonderful trip…

Thanks :).   I decided against the antibiotics, no more surprises.  I’ll need 2 poles for the tent but only use one as much as possible. My most shot knee is opposite my ginsu’ed finger, so I’ll just make do and take it easy for once.  I might even like the change of pace.

I’ll be bringing a chair (yuck) to help keep my hand out of the dirt.  My pack hasn’t been this heavy in a long time!

@David D – looks like the forum police took down your OP. Frankly, not sure why.

IIRC, in your first post you mentioned you were headed to the Rockies? Which state?

Regardless, have a wonderful trip.

Yeah, I’m seconding that question: why was that post pulled?  Only thing I can possibly think of is the image of the injury, but that really wasn’t overly-graphic; there was even a warning for it.  Even if so…why not just mod the image instead of pulling the post?

Anyway, David: can’t blame you for skipping the antibiotics.  I hate taking them, myself; they wreck me for weeks, if not longer.

Thanks Brad and Bonzo.

Looks like forum software is stripping original post on other topics too.  Glad I got this one off in time!

Off to British Columbia by way of Calgary, ticket in pocket. This complication is heightening the sense of adventure, but I’m taking this seriously.  Should be fun

I wouldn’t hesitate to use a trekking pole, unless it hurts.  Maybe use a latex finger cover, taking it off frequently.

I didn’t pull the first post and I do not see it in the Deleted Posts/Replies bin. I am investigating…

I see that many (all?) threads seem to be missing their first post. I have alerted the rest of the team!

The trip was a great success and will provide lifelong wonderful memories.

The finger was more of a minor inconvenience once I dialed in how to manage it.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement to go ahead with the trip, I’m so glad I went for it.

The trip was a great success and will provide lifelong wonderful memories

That is so good!

Glad to hear that the trip went well.  I slice the tip of one finger off in a hut in New Zealand, while slicing vegetables, distracted by the conversation.  I put the bit of “chopped onion” that wasn’t onion back on my finger tip, pressing it with my thumb and putting that hand above my head for 15-20 minutes (direct pressure and elevation).  Then gingerly removed my thumb and secured it with a bandaid, and continued the trekking trip, trying to keep it clean and moist.  It worked.  No stitches, just held in place by the scab.  I didn’t think about rotational alignment, so it changed my fingerprint on that finger a bit.

It must have been a challenge to keep clean.  The things we do for the pursuits we love.

4 weeks will pass between injury and getting a surgeons consult.  A doctor friend expects it’ll probably require a tendon graft given the delay but absolutely no regrets.

Thanks again for the kind words.