The Importance Of Assessing A Hand Before Stuck Ring Removal

Have you faced a situation where an individual presents with a stuck ring and even though you’ve tried every technique you can think of (i.e. lubrication, dental floss, icing the finger, etc.) the ring is still stuck? This could be because you missed a very important step. Assessing the hand is a key first step before attempting to remove any stuck ring. Assessing the hand will help you understand what caused the ring to become stuck, how long it has been stuck for and a few other critical pieces that will allow you to come up with a plan to give you the best chance of getting the ring off without cutting. Set yourself up for success the next time you encounter a stuck ring by following the steps below to learn what the best course of action is based on the situation!

To begin, you should ask the individual a few important questions:

1. Is the finger seriously injured (i.e. bone fracture, laceration, etc.)?

If you are not a healthcare professional (i.e. jewellery) and there is a severe injury that could be a fractured bone or if the finger is lacerated, you should recommend the individual go to the nearest hospital so that a healthcare professional can provide care.

2. Has the individual attempted removing the ring them self?

Once you have determined that there are no major injuries, you can now assess whether the individual has caused their finger to be “angry”. An angry finger is one that is raw, sore and more swollen due to damage caused by the patient/customer attempting removal themselves. Oftentimes patients/customers will seek help only after having tried many DIY methods at home methods such as ice, Windex, dental floss, etc., to remove the ring. If this is the case, the individual’s finger may be angry (red, sore, raw and excessively swollen) from them trying to pull the ring off. In these angry finger situations, it is best to send the individual away and ask them to return after 1 week when the finger is healed as this will give you a greater chance of removing the ring non-destructively.

3. How long has the ring been stuck?

If the finger is not sore, or if the individual is determined to remove the ring without allowing the finger to heal, it’s time to find out how long the ring has been stuck. If the ring has become stuck within the last two weeks, it may have been caused by an allergic reaction, minor injury, drastic change of temperature, etc. In these acute cases, the ring is likely stuck due to a recent or sudden onset of symptoms such as localized swelling. If the ring has been stuck for longer than two weeks, it may be stuck due to weight gain, pregnancy, arthritis, etc. In these more chronic cases, the ring is likely stuck due to a development of tissue that has gradually built up over a period of time.

4. You’re ready to remove the ring

Now that you have assessed the hand, you’re ready to attempt removal! The finger Compression Device by Ring Rescue Inc. is the best first step in removing a stuck ring. The device is applied to the hand for 1 round (5 minutes) in acute cases, and for 2-3 rounds (10-15 minutes) in chronic and angry finger cases. After the finger is compressed, proper manipulation techniques and specially designed, non-hydrating Ring Rescue lubricant are used to remove the ring. 

To learn more about this topic, watch our expert advice video below to hear directly from our ring removal experts on the importance of assessing the hand before ring removal.