Staples for Wound Closure
Aftercare
A dressing may be applied initially if the stapled wound continues to ooze, when pressure is required to achieve hemostasis, or when the wound is at risk for gross contamination. Scalp lacerations may be left open to the air.
Patient education:
- Take care not to re-injure the anesthetized area.
- Keep dressing in place for first 24-48 hours then leave the wound open to air.
- Keep the wound clean and dry for the first 24-48 hours.
- Do not soak wound, showering is acceptable.
- Monitor for signs and symptoms of infection: wound tenderness, erythema greater than 1 cm from wound edge, wound purulence, wound dehiscence, and regional lymphangitis.
- Pain management options.
Follow-up
Schedule a 48-hour wound check as secondary wound infections typically occur 24-72 hours after the initial injury. The timing for staple removal is the same to that as for sutures. Alternating staples should be removed to assess for wound dehiscence.
REMOVAL SUGGESTIONS |
|
| Face | 3-5 days |
| Scalp, arms | 7-10 days |
| Trunk, legs, hands, feet | 10-14 days |
| Palms of hands, soles of feet | 14-21 days |