Hi jwag4646 Australia Calling,you mention" that the diseased facia tissue has to be removed." Does this mean you will have skin grafting to the area. Ive had 4 large grafts done over the period ,which included many surgeries some repeat surgery. I must say I have never had my hand in plaster for any of the ops.
It must be a surgeon preference as I have seen patients from another surgeon with the arm in plaster.
From my personal experience ,keep you hand elevated ie. with you hand up on the shoulder to stop any clotting .Keep the fingers gently moving (like playing a piano) this pumps the blood back through the viens. .I had the bandage opened and stitches either removed or checked after 10 days . The graft was examined after 7days to check it has taken and the blood supply had promoted the tissue growth in the graft. A graft on the inside of the palm /hand sometimes does not take. After 10 days I could drive a car and silly boy on the farm rode the motor bike to round up cattle. Once you are on the road to recovery I believe excercise and long gentle stretching and forcing the hand to make a fist are all important. I hope you haven't left this surgery too long when you say you have 90 degree contraction. My advice was using the table top test not to wait boyond 50 mm (2ins.) contracture which I believe is about 30 degree. If you are having a graft make sure the surgeon marks out on your hand, the area so you dont get a shock when you first see it. If I can help further let me know.Regards.

Edited 01/28/09 05:14

hey thanks for the comments. I am seeing my Dr today with a long list of questions that were not addressed at the initial consultation. I am real apprehensive in having this done. I'm such a baby! It's just I'm right handed, extremely active and workout 6-7 days a week(no more weight lifting for awhile). I so hope the Dr. will leave the 3 fingers non DC free from the cast or what ever will used. I will post this afternoon or in morning after my Dr appt. today. Again thanks again for all your input and comments. There are just so many things you read on the web do this......no do this......this the best way...it gets a person a little confused. I really think a person has to make his mind up to do what he thinks is best and put it in God's and the surgeons hands. Hope neither of them have DC! ha ha

well i just hand the surgery yesterday afternoon on my R pinkie and ring finger. no skin graft needed. in a splint almost to the elbo with ace bandage. no real pain yet. Dr. told the wife all in all went well. when the pinkie was released he said it hyperextended........not sure how that will affect rehab & PT. was given hydrocodon for pain.....made me feel like bugs were crawling on me.........needless to say not much sleep last night.
hang in there fellow DC'ers..... i'll post again soon

callie...........thanks for your previous posts. i'm in just a partial bottom cast. not to uncomfortable so far. you posted earlier you were 90 degree contracted prior. are you straight now? my dr said i'd prob be 10 after rehab & PT. that would be a blessing! you know we take so many things for granted..... that things happening like this really wakes a person up and there are others out there that have it alot worse. are you m or f? where from? again thanks for your posts. have a great day!

callie.....i think he is going to take the cast off this coming Mon. and re-dress the hand. mold for a splint and stitches out Fri. i know i will be very deligent in the rehab exercises. this is a major set back for me but i'm willing to work thru it as i have the other hand with the ring finger just starting contracting and the pinkie at 50+ degrees. i hope i can rehab enough in 6 mos to get the left hand done. it seems to be the most aggressive of the two. so we will see how it goes.