Discharge Instructions: Pin Care

You are going home with pins in place. These pins are holding a broken or dislocated bone in place. Here’s what you need to know about home care.

General Guidelines

• Clean the skin around the pins twice a day or as often as instructed by your doctor.

• Don’t use creams, lotions, or antiseptics unless your doctor says it’s okay.

Prepare Your Supplies

• Set up the following supplies on a clean, dry surface:

  • Gauze pads or cotton swabs.

  • Sterile solution. This might be regular saline or a mixture of saline and hydrogen peroxide. Your doctor will tell you more.

• Peel open the gauze package or set aside some cotton swabs.

• Pour the solution into a bowl—enough to cover the bottom of a small salad or soup bowl.

Clean Your Pins

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds before cleaning your pins.

• Dip the gauze pads or cotton swabs in the bowl of solution.

• Squeeze extra solution from the gauze and open the pad.

• Clean around each pin site using the soaked gauze pad or cotton swab. Gently press down on the skin, while wiping around and away from each pin.

• Remove any crust at the pin site. Use a new gauze pad or cotton swab each time you wipe.

• Use a new gauze pad or cotton swab to clean each pin site.

• Throw away used gauze pads and cotton swabs into a waterproof waste bag.

• Wash your hands after you have finished cleaning your pins.

Follow-Up

Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.