Why is this procedure done?
A laceration is a cut on your skin. It is most often caused by a sharp object like a knife blade, glass, or from other things with sharp edges. Sometimes, this kind of cut is shallow. Other times, it goes deep into the skin and muscles. Before the cut can be closed, it must be cleaned. Closing the wound is called a laceration repair. ‚
You may need a laceration repair if your cut: ‚
- Keeps bleeding after pressure is put on it for 10 to 15 minutes
- Is deep and muscle, fat, tendon, or bone is seen
- Is long or split wide open
- Is in an area of movement. This may affect healing or cause your cut to reopen. Areas of high stress like hands, feet, and joints that are moved often during normal daily activities.
- Is dirty
- Has jagged or uneven edges
A cut may be closed in different ways. ‚
- Special skin glue that holds the wound edges together. It works best on areas of the body that do not move a lot.
- Strips of special adhesive tape, called steri strips. These are used for minor wounds that are clean, have straight edges, and are not too deep.
- Special types of thread called stitches are used to close some wounds. They are used for cuts that are deep or wont stop bleeding. Stitches work well for cuts with jagged edges or those that have fat or muscle showing. Some stitches need to be taken out after the wound heals. Others melt away or dissolve as the wound heals.
- Special metal staples can be used when the wound is on the scalp, neck, arms, legs, body, or buttocks.
- A combination of these methods. The doctor may close the deep area of the wound with stitches and the top layer of the wound with glue, tape, or staples.
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What will the results be?
When your laceration has been repaired you may have: ‚
- Better healing
- Lower risk of infection
- Less pain
- Smaller scar
What happens before the procedure?
- Your doctor will look at your wound and decide if a simple repair can be done. Some wounds need a surgeon to do the repair.
- Your doctor will take your history. Talk to the doctor about:
- All the drugs you are taking. Be sure to include all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and herbal supplements. Tell the doctor about any drug allergy. Bring a list of drugs you take with you.
- Any bleeding problems. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any drugs that may cause bleeding. Some of these are Coumadin, ibuprofen, Aleve (naproxen), or aspirin. Certain vitamins and herbs, such as garlic and fish oil, may also add to the risk for bleeding. Talk to your doctor about them.
- When you received your last tetanus shot.
- Ask your doctor if you will need someone to drive you home.
What happens during the procedure?
- Your cut site is cleaned using a special soap.
- The doctor will give you a drug to numb the area.
- The doctor may have to examine the wound thoroughly to see if any foreign objects, like glass, metal, or wood, are still in the wound.
- Skin Glue
- The doctor will hold the wound together while putting some thin layers of glue on it.
- It will take about three coats to close the wound. Your doctor will hold the wound in place for 60 seconds.
- In some cases, stitches may also be needed for the deeper layers of tissue.
- The glue will fall off on its own in 7 to 10 days. It does not need to be covered with a bandage.
- Skin Tape or Steri Strips
- The doctor will bring the skin edges together. Then, adhesive strips will be put across the wound.
- These strips will hold the skin edges together until the wound heals.
- Your wound may be covered by a bandage.
- The tape will fall off on its own in 5 to 10 days.
- Stitches
- The doctor will put a surgical drape around the wound.
- If the wound is deep, stitches under the skin may be needed before closing the wound. These deep stitches will be absorbed by the body.
- The top layer will be closed with more stitches. These may need to be taken out later in 5 to 10 days.
- The doctor may put a thin layer of antibiotic ointment on your wound and cover it with a bandage.
- Staples
- Your doctor will line up the skin edges of your wound.
- Staples will be placed along the wound with a special tool to hold the edges together. The doctor may put a thin layer of antibiotic ointment on your wound and may cover it with a bandage.
- The staples will need to be taken out by the doctor in 5 to 10 days.
- The time the procedure will take depends on the size of the wound and how much cleaning is needed.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent infection
Your doctor may give you a tetanus shot. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Scarring
- Poor healing
Where can I learn more?
FamilyDoctor.org ‚
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/staying-healthy/first-aid/first-aid-cuts-scrapes-and-stitches.printerview.all.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚