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SALT LAKE CITY — The world of health and medicine can be confusing to many parents. But Nurse Suzy is here to help clarify some of the issues that are important to you and your family.
This week's question: How do I tell if a cut needs stitches?
Answer:
Skin lacerations come in different stages and require different ways to treat.
Abrasions
Small abrasions, or scrapes, will take daily cleaning with soap and water. Over-the-counter antibiotic ointment will reduce dryness and deep scabbing.
Large abrasions will take more care and maybe hospitalization. For example, if you wreck on a bike and half of your back has road rash, it has to be cleaned; and scrubbing with soap and water is usually the treatment.
Though cleaning the wound can be very painful, it has to be done to prevent infection. Sometimes rocks, glass, sticks can be imbedded in the abrasions and have to be removed or you will get a bad infection.
Lacerations to the body
A laceration his is tearing of the skin, which happens in varying degrees. The way to tell if you need stitches for a small laceration is fairly easy:
- If you can pull the skin apart and see tan-colored tissue, you need stitches.
- If you can barely pull the skin apart, you just need to clean the wound and tape it closed.
Some minor cuts can be closed with special adhesive tapes (Steri-Strips) or tissue glue (Dermabond or Indermil). Tissue glue can be used as a barrier against common bacterial microbes. At home, I have used Super Glue to close minor wounds.
Head lacerations
If you have a laceration on your head, be prepared for a lot of bleeding. Even if the cut is small, it will bleed a lot.
Applying direct pressure is the best way to stop bleeding of any wound.
"If you have a very small laceration on your head, and you have the bleeding stopped, you can tightly braid the hair over the laceration ... and the laceration will heal."
If you have a very small laceration on your head, and you have the bleeding stopped, you can tightly braid the hair over the laceration. Do not remove the braid for several days, and the laceration will heal. Also, keep the hair clean and dry as much as possible.
Deep lacerations are easy to identify, and you will need to seek help from a doctor to have it closed properly. If you do not have medical coverage and do not want to go to the hospital, you need to understand if the wound is left untreated for more than two hours you run the risk of the doctors not closing the wound. This can lead to infection and a very large scar.
Remember the sides of the laceration have to be straight for any of the above suggestions work. If you have any laceration with jagged edges — like a tearing wound - you have to see a doctor who will clean the edges and make them straight for better healing and less scarring.
It is also important to remember an abrasion or cut on the skin will leave a scar no matter what you do. It does not matter if a plastic surgeon repairs a laceration or a family doctor, you will have scarring.
Suzanne Carlile, "Nurse Suzy," has been a nurse since 1982. Her main focus is critical care and nursing education. She holds a master's degree in nursing, is a Certified Emergency Nurse, and a member of NNSDO Intermountain West Chapter.
