Suturing of Uncomplicated Lacerations
Aftercare
A dressing may be applied initially if the sutured wound continues to ooze, when pressure is required to achieve hemostasis, or when the wound is at risk for gross contamination.
Patient education:
- Take care not to re-injure the area where the anesthetic agent was used.
- 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.
Generally, areas that are very well vascularized, such as the face, heal very quickly and sutures can be removed after 4-5 days. Sutures should be left in place for a longer period of time in areas of higher skin tension or mobility, such as the hand. Alternating sutures 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 |