*PREP: Splinting a Finger? and other questions...
Hello everyone, ^^
Another question (Or three... Or seventeen... X_X) in regards to preforming the magnet implant(s, I will be doing two). I have been starting to amass my supplies, wish to double check on everything for any suggestions or red flags. D: Call me a fool if you see something wrong, please. Please!
- Any disadvantage to using an aluminium alloy full-finger splint to protect the finger (Other than inconvenience) after surgery for a week or two to isolate and protect from collisions at the worst times? REALLY want to avoid getting a rejection after doing so much study and prep to make some stupid movement that wrecks all the work. I tend to be extremely active, I don't mind looking like a dork if it means it stops me from accidentally messing all this up. `_`
- 91% Isopropyl Alcohol... Appropriate general-purpose sterilising agent for tools that need to be sterilized / immediate surgical area / final operating surface prep / anything else that needs attention/sterilization? Or is there something better / more ideal to use? I hear about Chlorohexidine a bit here, It;s not something I have worked with at all... Is it much more effective than 91% Isopropyl?
- "New Skin" Liquid bandage... Any good as an adhesive to keep the area sealed in lieu of sutures? Or is it not going to be idea compared to other adhesives. As a branching question, is there a significant advantage to using sutures over adhesives that will promote a measurable increase in success, using one to another?
- Utilization of Lidocaine... I have never used it before. Obviously, get it perfect. IF it gets into a vein, what do I do? Poison control / ER or just make sure I feel okay? Also, using the same needle from one finger to the next, is this a big No No? I will be needing to nerve block two independant fingers.
- In regards to enlarging the pocket after making the incision, the highest degree of efficiency is to use the back, blunt edge to undermine/remove the material? Or would it be best to use another modified tool/designed tool?
If you wish to help, answer any questions you wish to. ^^ Of course, I am still always doing more research, this is not my FINAL plan, this is my current position, and I am still always gathering more information, and I still have a good amount of time to engorge on what else I can find. Watching @AlexSmith's progress on his M31's, really interested on their lack of Ni coating.
I will be locating a pair of TiN M31's into my fingers, one on each hand, onto each ring finger, outer facing edge. These will be my first implants, I will ideally preforming both at once, myself, and maybe with a person or two spotting/waiting in case i make a mistake. (I don't exactly trust their ability more so than my own, but they are still extra hands should i need extra hands :D)
I kinda pride myself on being the person who's there and usually reacts to people getting injured first among my group of friends. I don't mind blood, i don't mind doing the incisions and work on myself from the intimidation standpoint. Nerve blocking should make it even easier, not feeling pain throughout it.
But I fully respect that i am in no way trained or experienced as a medical responder or surgeon. I have confidence in my abilities, but I also understand I am extremely naive. Any advice or suggestions are always appreciated. I love knowledge.
Thank you everyone, and please don't work too hard.~~ ^^
Comments
Sterilization
- Pocket formation
Last I checked, using half a pair of surgical scissors to separate the area is your best bet. You could use a scalpel, but I'd practice before you did that. No clue whether or not the back of a scalpel would suffice. And you'd have to be careful not to slice up the surrounding tissue inadvertently with the sharp edge.Fully intending to use finger splints for mechanical protection, but removing and replacing them and taking gloves on and off over and over again, along with the moisture that gathers in the gloves, sounds very unideal. :s
But I'm still very much more interested in using a completely covering adhesive to prevent any contamination, and the brace to prevent physical trauma to the site, work or not.
The more I look into things, glue seems more and more appealing even though stitches are still the conventional tested method with proven effectiveness. I do not at all deny that stitches are effective. >~< But for my own personal situation, I think adhesive may work better, at least with everything I know.
Is there a significant downside to using both? Or does become redundant to use both?
Sincerely,
John Doe
Also obtained more Loctite. One thing that I have learned is that you can apply a layer of this specific type of superglue (this variety being a thin liquid), and then layer on top/adhere a strip/piece/layer of woven material and replicate a resin/fiberglass effect.
Also, it tends to be much much more resilient than almost every other type of glue I've tried. I've never ever had this stuff fall apart, even under full mechanical strain on my right index finger, without doing any cloth. I've strait cracked open shells of lower quality glue accidentally. :_: Really sucks.
I may be needing to do some tests. I purchased a product called 'new skin' to try as a wound adhesive... I don't know how strong it is, if it needs to be reinforced, if it's safe to reinforce, and how it will bond if they are comparable. The nice thing about it is it's medical and not just the really good, yet... not medical... And it has antibacterial properties.
Needs more research. :0
@Meanderpaul I'm going to be doing one on each ring finger, both hands well be in the same shape when I get done with them. >~<
@cathasach My hands aren't just doing very hands on work. I also have hyperhidrosis... Not that like, it's really bad, but one thing I've noticed is that any time I wear nitrile/latex gloves for more than 10 minuets I begin getting moisture inside, even in 'dry' conditions.
I get a lot of cuts. I've had a lot of 'waterlogged' cuts, I know not to wear these gloves with cuts unless they are sealed.
I decided though that it might be difficult to get two isolated attempts out at two different times. I understand the uselessness that will occur, but I'd rather swallow two pills at once if I can, than two pills, one at a time. >~<
Duly noted on New Skin. May just try it on completely stable, inert skin for a while and see how it holds up as an artificial callous/skin in terms of durability.
That's... kinda in the title, silly. :p And the first question I asked, if there was any reason to not split it for secondary armoring.
^^ Very aware of the need to shield my finger when the active life style I have. The main thing that's going to suck is typing. >~<
Reading up a smidgen on everything. The Lidocaine I am looking at appears to be 2%.
4mL still holds true, or would one expect to be using less? 2mL because of concentration? Or does it not scale directly with concentration? Again, will be doing more research.
I've been reading multiple different sources for preforming digital nerve blocks, so still getting needle placement down to exactly where. I understand the basic method of hypodermic injection, I understand needle aspiration.
I just need to do more intimate study of the anatomy of the hand and know exactly where I am aiming,. ^^'
Open general question, does the needle need to intersect with a very specific nerve, or will the lidocaine move inside of the tissues a little bit to get where it needs to go should it 'miss' by a tiny bit?
Sorry for being such a novice on all of this I know there are a few things that I am looking to do differently than the convention, but it's good to hear the standard method to know what I am working with. And thank you much for the contributed information everyone. :D
I really have been doing a ton of investigation into using/not using Lidocaine.
I'm not especially afraid of needles, but what scares me about it is the introduction of it into a vein. which again, is easily avoidable. it would be a somewhat... Stupid... Mistake to make.
Anesthetic will generally make everything much easier, however. Your nervous system isn't enflamed. The site isn't transmitting a trauma signal to you, it will make. I fancy myself with enough will to do it without the anesthetic, but really there isn't any reason to not utilize it unless you either have an intense phobia of needles, cost is a HUGE deal (which in such case you shouldn't be doing this), or you are allergic to Lidocaine.
Even if all it means is your hands are shaking less, that's your hands shaking less. that's cleaner cuts and easier implanting. less trauma. Higher success rate. IF you can feel pain, and pain will have an effect on your senses, and it can be removed to make things go better, I do not see any reason to not isolate it, especially since it seems to be pretty basic and effective in regards to Lidocaine. Personally, even starting from the same position, I am vying to use it after doing the research I have, I would suggest it unless one of those three conditions overrides.
In contrast, however, Sutures are far more tested and successful than adhesives, so far. I am vying against using sutures myself, but that's because I have a bit of a unique condition with being forced to guarantee complete seal.
If I did not work in an industrial environment with so many factors being ideal as vectors of failure, I would go with a stitch or two. I'm also willing to contribute in the field of trying to use adhesives rather than stitches, seeing if it's something that can be made successful/ideal, but I know I'm gambling against procedure there. If you are looking for stability, and have the luxury of no special conditions, Really would suggest stitches if you are going for success.
From what I've read around, combining them can go horribly wrong. But don't quote me on that. Please correct me if I'm wrong, anyone who is very familiar.
When I have my implant done, I expect to use dissolvable stitches and then seal it up with generic Tegaderm. You have to wait for the bleeding to stop of course.
I know I already mentioned that but I figured I could elaborate on my experience with it. I used gorilla a lot while working but also mixed it with electrical tape to help keep it together or I would just use the tape.