Hand Surgery - *Graphic*

Shortly after Caroline's status changed from critical to stable last August at Dell, the neonatologists told us they were going to ask for a hand plastics consult to look at what could be done about Caroline's hand. At the time, we thought they were nuts. After everything she had been through, why in the world would we want to put her through anything else? There just happened to be a hand specialist employed by the hospital so we thought it was at least worth looking into. We didn't even know what was possible.

When we met with him, he explained that he could give Caroline a thumb using a procedure called Index Pollicization. He explained that he would move her index finger into the position of the thumb. After he talked about it and what it entailed, I asked if we could choose not to do it. At the time, this seemed very unnecessary given everything else being done that was very necessary. He of course said "yes" but asked me to think about what I could do without a thumb; all the things I wouldn't be able to pick up. We had plenty of time to decide; we wouldn't even think about a date until all of her other issues had been taken care of and we would see him when she was almost a year.

So, needless to say, we decided she would thank us later if we went ahead and had the surgery done. She had the procedure the day before her birthday, August 11th. I have never heard of a doctor taking pictures during a procedure and sharing them with the family (taking pictures, yes. sharing with the family, no!). But, this one did and while they are a little graphic, I am glad to have them. If you don't want to see the inside of her hand, don't scroll down :)!

This is was her hand right before the surgery.

The skin pulled back to expose . . . everything! The dark red is muscle and the thin white lines are nerves.

To make her index finger the size of a thumb, they took out the middle section of the 2nd proximal phalanx bone (the long bone on the index finger) and fused the top and bottom of that bone together. This picture shows the section of the bone that was removed.

A pin is currently holding the bones in place until they heal together.

We were really pleased and surprised with the way it turned out. It actually looks like a thumb!!

After the surgery, hospital staff surprised Caroline (and the rest of us) with a big cake and cupcakes to celebrate her birthday the next day. She wasn't exactly excited by it . . .


The procedure was out patient and she left with coban wrapped around her and and up to her elbow. Jesse took her back to Austin this past Monday for a check up. The doctor was very pleased when he took the bandage off. We were originally told that the first bandage would be replaced with a splint but he ended up wrapping it again with a smaller wrapping. We think she likes it a lot better because her little fingers are exposed.

Unfortunately, with this one, we need to rewrap it ourselves every 2-3 days. We are going to do it for the first time tomorrow and I am a little nervous.

She goes back on September 12th. At that visit, the doctor will take the pin out and she should have a completely usable thumb!!