Sooooooooooo, long story short - I’ve lost an inch of my thumb, and it can’t be reattached..
I was loading the pellet into an air rifle, the gun (my friends) didn’t have a trigger guard. Whilst my thumb was in the chamber where you put the pellet, my knee pressed the trigger and the firing pin (or the air rifle equivalent; not firearm savvy) closed on my thumb.
As you imagine, the mechanism had a very high velocity, and my thumb was no match for it..
I’ve never had any surgery, but I’m assuming the bone will be filed down, then the remaining thumb will be stitched closed. Would this be a local anaesthetic procedure?
It’s so surreal; it’s only cut from just below halfway down the nail, but I can’t imagine having a deformed looking thumb. I hope it won’t be too noticeable and effect my day-to-day confidence. I know the function will be the same though, I just need to rationalize, and convince myself people won’t be bothered by it.
All I need to know is, general or local anaesthetic?
Local. They will most likely do a nerve block. Easy to do on an extremity. Just a shot with a very big needle.. Good luck.
Oh, and dont worry about the “deformity”. I bet most wont really notice. Or you can spin it and use it as a conversation starter with the ladies… Lol !
In the end, the trauma clinic doctor decided the best way for this specific injury was to clean, sterilize and dress the wound, letting nature do it’s work, without surgical intervention or stitches. I have had regular redressings (twice a week) and take a progress picture every Monday. It’s healing well, and is looking really healthy, considering.
I’m going to make a time lapse with all the pictures once it has fully healed. I figure it will be an interesting transition, and it’s fascinating how the body works!
Good luck.