Instructions for use of Coban Therapy
Patients using Coban dressing changes are given the following information.
Coban is difficult to find and the office will often supply the patient
with their first roll. Coban (or Co-Flex, which is basically identical) is
available irregularly in pharmacies. Four inch wide Coban is often
available at feed stores or other stores catering to livestock. This is
perfectly suitable for use on the hand. Coban may be placed directly over
an open wound without an intervening layer of gauze, as long as the wound
has minimal drainage. It is easiest for the patient to fashion a finger
bandage by cutting the Coban into 4 strips prior to application. Even if
the Coban is covering the fingertip, it is usually necessary to wrap the
Coban just proximal to the proximal interphalangeal joint to prevent the
dressing from being accidentally dislodged. If adjacent fingers are
individually wrapped with Coban, they will often stick together. To prevent
this, the patient may place a piece of tape along the side of one of the
fingers to form a barrier to adherence, or may rub Vaseline or similar
greasy ointment on the side of one of the fingers to prevent the fingers
from sticking together.
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