Skip to content
Hand emergency Severed or crushed fingers — call before you travel
+977 9841333456

Hand emergency

A cut or severed finger is time-critical

Control the bleeding, keep any severed part on ice in a bag but never directly on the ice, and get to a hospital emergency department without delay. Call us on the way.

Call now

+977 9841333456

Hattigauda and Tripureshwor, Kathmandu. Urgent hand injuries are seen the same day.

Directions to both centres

What to do, in order

Work through these while someone else arranges transport.

  1. 1. Control the bleeding

    Press gently but firmly with a clean cloth and raise the hand above the level of the heart. Avoid a tourniquet unless the bleeding is life-threatening.

  2. 2. Keep any severed part safe

    Find it, even if it looks badly damaged. Wrap it in a moist cloth and seal it in a bag. Put that bag on ice. Never place the part directly on ice.

  3. 3. Support the hand as it is

    Splint it in a comfortable position. Do not pull, force or straighten it.

  4. 4. Get to a hospital emergency department

    Go to the nearest one without delay. Do not wait for a callback before you leave.

  5. 5. Call us on the way

    Ring +977 9841333456 and describe the injury so the team can guide you.

  6. 6. Note the time of injury

    Write down when it happened and tell the surgical team on arrival.

  7. 7. Nothing to eat or drink

    Surgery may need a general anaesthetic, and eating or drinking on the way can delay it.

Never do these

Each of these can turn a repairable injury into an unrepairable one.

  • Put the severed part directly onto ice.
  • Tie a tourniquet unless the bleeding is life-threatening.
  • Pull, force or straighten the hand.
  • Soak or scrub the wound or the part in antiseptic, alcohol or spirit.
  • Wait to see whether it settles.
  • Eat or drink on the way.

Treat as urgent if

Do not use the consultation form for any of these. Call.

  • A finger, thumb or part of the hand has been cut off
  • The hand is crushed, or was caught in a machine
  • Bone, tendon or joint is visible in the wound
  • You cannot bend or straighten a finger, or it has gone numb after an injury
  • A finger is cold, white or blue
  • A wound is hot, swollen, spreading or discharging pus

In Nepali

Dr. Shrestha explains what to do

What to do before reaching hospital if a finger is cut or severed, in Nepali. Share it with whoever is travelling with the patient.

Play video: What to do before reaching hospital if a finger is cut or severed

Not sure how serious it is?

Call and describe it. Severe trauma, suspected tendon or nerve injury, infection and loss of blood flow all count as urgent.

+977 9841333456

This page is general first-aid guidance, not a diagnosis. If you are unsure, call us or go to your nearest emergency department.