I took off the end of my thumb, and the doc used a surgicel dressing to give the blood something to clot to. It's now time to change out the bandages, and I'm concerned removing the Surgicel is going to pull off everything that is keeping it from continuing to bleed. Is Surgicel the stuff that dissolves and doesn't need to be removed, or am I thinking of something else?

Fingers are out of my lane, but surgicel is a resorbable material. If you are changing a dressing out, avoid disturbing the clout as best as you can. I used to use surgicel when removing third molars with tetracycline added to avoid dry socket. I never went back for it. It turns to jelly on contact with blood.

Agree with Endo. Leave it be.

Thanks for the info. I've left it on. The really nice thing is the clot and Surgicel formed a hard shell over the end of the thumb that has kept it from being painful, and there is no redness or tenderness in my thumb at all. It allowed me to go from gauze bandages to a band-aid covering it.

How did you take off the end of your thumb?

And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is why I don't own a mandoline and never will. I've seen the exact thing happen live and in person in living tehnicolor to a friend of mine.

I am intrigued by this surgicell stuff. Is it better than tegaderm for road rash? Can I get some?

Don't knock the mandolin; my finger is none the worse for wear one year later and my mise en place is second to none.

[This message has been edited by Buddy_Holly (edited 3/31/2011 4:02p).]

Someone needs to grow fennel bulbs smaller so the safety guard fits.