WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
Laceration is the medical term for a cut. It may be large
or small and may bleed a lot or a little. If a laceration
bleeds a great deal with no sign of stopping, it needs to be
closed with stitches. You may also need stitches to keep the
wound from becoming infected and to reduce the scarring that
may develop after it has healed. If the wound is too old,
stitching it may not be possible. Some lacerations actually
heal better without stitches. The healing time for a
laceration depends on its location. For instance, a cut on the
leg usually heals more slowly than one on the head. Stitches
are usually removed within 5 days to 2 weeks. The cut will
continue to heal for up to 6 months.
Causes
Typically, a blow from a sharp object sustained in a fall
or an accident.
Signs/Symptoms
Symptoms include bleeding, pain,
numbness, and swelling of the injured skin.
Care
The doctor will clean the
laceration and examine it carefully. If it is very painful, you
may be given numbing medicine before any procedures are
performed. If stitches are necessary, your doctor will tell you
how to take care of them. You will need to see your doctor
again to have them removed. You may also need a tetanus shot if
you have not had one in a long time.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
-
Keep your bandage clean and dry. If the bandage gets
wet and needs to be changed, unwrap it slowly and
carefully. If it sticks or starts to hurt, use water to
loosen it gently. Pat the area dry with a clean towel
before putting on another bandage. Keep the wound bandaged
until your doctor instructs you to
stop.
-
If possible, keep the wound lifted above the level of
your heart for 24 to 48 hours. This reduces pain and
swelling and helps healing.
-
Clean the wound gently 3 to 4 times a
day:
-
Flush an open wound thoroughly with clean water.
Wash the area around the wound with soap and water or a
cotton swab dipped in a mixture of half water and half
hydrogen peroxide.
-
If you have a cut on your mouth or lip, rinse your
mouth after meals and at bedtime. Ask your doctor what to
use as a rinse.
-
If you have a scalp wound, you may wash your hair
gently after you get home. Keep your hair dry until the day
you are to have your stitches removed, then wash it gently
before seeing the doctor.
-
Do not soak the wound or go swimming. If the wound is
on your hand or lower arm, avoid washing
dishes.
-
If you are given a tetanus shot, your arm may get
swollen, red, and warm to the touch at the site of the
shot. This is a normal reaction to the
medicine.
Call Your Doctor If...
-
The wound keeps bleeding.
-
You have a high temperature.
-
Pain in the wound gets worse and won't
stop.
-
You have signs of infection (redness, swelling, pus,
a bad smell, or red streaks leading from the
wound).
-
You have numbness or swelling below the wound, or you
cannot move the joint below the wound.
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