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I keep seeing this thread and mulling it over.
You want plenty of skin to wrap over the end, so slice around the last section of useable skin, peel back the good skin towards the hand by 3/4 of an inch or an inch - I guess you probably need to cut down lengthways as well to make it easier. Going back a step, a tourniquet (zip tie) is probably a good idea. And turn your soldering iron on, clean your tools, clear your garage worktop a bit, go for a wee etc.
After you've got your skin flapped back, cut 1/2 inch back from where you cut the skin. slice through all the soft bits, cauterise bleedy bits with the soldering iron then get your dremel or hacksaw out ( I think I'd go for the hacksaw, personally* - medium tooth for wood, plastic etc - treat yourself to a new blade, why not, and clean it beforehand) and get through the bone. Rinse, spritz of IPA (not the beer). Flap the skin back, make good. I've got some sharp new flush cut snips I'd use to cut the skin so it joins neatly. Probably use more of the palm side, less of the back. I'd probably glue rather than stitch, as I'd be doing it one-handed, and I'd probably have had enough of the whole thing by then anyway. Hopefully the finger in question is on my left hand, because I think my right hand is a better surgeon.
Have a drink and a sit down, mop up, then drop into minor injuries to check my work.
*Maybe a bandsaw if I had one. Harder to clean beforehand, though... And after.
If I was to try this DIY (pretty sure I wouldn't, but I understand how desperate someone might get), I would anaesthetise with lignocaine, then put the finger under tension and keep jabbing the tendon with a large surgical needle.
However, I'm a coward and can only imagine what might go wrong.
An ex-colleague slipped and slid down a roof and caught his wedding ring on the metal guttering just before he went over the edge. That did the job. It did greatly increase the length of the tendon though, which was like a bungy. Fourth finger though, not pinky.
Struggled forever after with washing his face as the water would go straight out through the consequent gap.
Home surgery hilarity aside, I've just done a bit of reading on Dupuytren’s syndrome. Sounds shit.
Sorry @Bruce, hope you find a way of resolving/reducing soon.
One of my mate's dad had this issue, but on both hands, and it was really getting him down as it really limited what he could manage to do, and he kept injuring them more getting them caught on things.
Bruce where are you based?
If Fife/Edinburgh, my dad got his Carpal Tunnel operated on by this group https://fifevirtualhandclinic.co.uk/ (he was referred to them due by the NHS due to waiting list times, so didn't pay for it)
They're Fife based, but my Dad got operated on in Spire Shawfair, and said the surgeon done a far better job than the NHS one did on his other hand.
@nedrapier It's a inconvienience at the moment and thinking of the physical and mental challenges that some of the other forum members face, it's not something I am going to get massively down about.
Thanks @MC thanks for the information, I am based in Manchester but there is a Spire hospital just up the road.
If you’d like more info on Dupuytren’s the British Dupuytren’s Society is a useful resource
https://dupuytrens-society.org.uk
DOI: consultant hand surgeon (Sheffield & Rotherham)
For some reason I thought that you were based north of the border.
A quick google for "Hand Clinic Manchester" has thrown up a few results, one of which is based in a Spire hospital.
Thanks @mc I might not live north of the border but I have just come back from camping and cycling in the Great Glen and we are about to go to Plockton and Skye to go sea kayaking.
We absolutely love Scotland and go as often as possible.
You want plenty of skin to wrap over the end...
That would mean we'd miss out on the sequel thread: DIY skin grafts - how do I do it?
But yes, sorry to hear of your bother Bruce.
I haven't read the rest of this thread but have you tried a lawnmower? RIP @merlinman
Hi Simon
We Don't have one 🙂
Have fun at LeMans.