Caring for stitches
Discussion
Had an crash on the motorbike at the weekend resulting in a load of stitches in my shin. I don't recall what the doc said about caring for them other than don't get them wet (I suspect a bit of concussion). Tried calling the GP but can't speak to anyone till tomorrow morning.
So, can I get the stitches wet and am I supposed to change the dressing? Any other guidance?
So, can I get the stitches wet and am I supposed to change the dressing? Any other guidance?
(Not a medic, working from memory, possibly better info available via Google)
Keep them properly dry for at least 2 days and you can see proper scabs have formed and the wound generally looks 'dry' for starters. Dressing - also leave alone for 48 hours, may well come off on its own not long after that, probably ought to check with whoever stitched you back up. If you were supposed to put new ones on they'd probably have given you new ones.
After that, and I'm generalising, you might have specific instructions depending on what you did and how they fixed you, showers are OK but baths/swimming are best avoided.
DO NOT SCRATCH YOUR STITCHES. It's almost certain they will itch like a b
d at some point. Leave well enough alone.
Some stitches dissolve, some need removing, you need to know which yours are and you're probably gonna need to ring up and ask, at which point you can also check for details about looking after the stitches.
Obvious stuff about watching it for signs of infection/bleeding but if you're a motorcyclist you probably already know that stuff. Do not ignore spreading redness or a high temperature, basically.
Mend fast!
Keep them properly dry for at least 2 days and you can see proper scabs have formed and the wound generally looks 'dry' for starters. Dressing - also leave alone for 48 hours, may well come off on its own not long after that, probably ought to check with whoever stitched you back up. If you were supposed to put new ones on they'd probably have given you new ones.
After that, and I'm generalising, you might have specific instructions depending on what you did and how they fixed you, showers are OK but baths/swimming are best avoided.
DO NOT SCRATCH YOUR STITCHES. It's almost certain they will itch like a b
d at some point. Leave well enough alone.Some stitches dissolve, some need removing, you need to know which yours are and you're probably gonna need to ring up and ask, at which point you can also check for details about looking after the stitches.
Obvious stuff about watching it for signs of infection/bleeding but if you're a motorcyclist you probably already know that stuff. Do not ignore spreading redness or a high temperature, basically.
Mend fast!
not my field but i heard on R4 the other day (maybe yesterday?) about research out of the far east which suggests that the received wisdom around wound care may be less than ideal.
i can't remember the exact conclusions nor do i recall the details of the methodology but it seems that getting stitches/wounds wet is not as risky as previously thought and that dry dressings do little or nothing to promote healing. course, not having a dressing and engaging in less than sanitary activities would be of concern - maybe it was a very precise/clinical conclusion and not as "real world" as patients tend to be.
think i'd still be exercising caution though !!
paul
i can't remember the exact conclusions nor do i recall the details of the methodology but it seems that getting stitches/wounds wet is not as risky as previously thought and that dry dressings do little or nothing to promote healing. course, not having a dressing and engaging in less than sanitary activities would be of concern - maybe it was a very precise/clinical conclusion and not as "real world" as patients tend to be.
think i'd still be exercising caution though !!
paul
paulmakin said:
not my field but i heard on R4 the other day (maybe yesterday?) about research out of the far east which suggests that the received wisdom around wound care may be less than ideal.
i can't remember the exact conclusions nor do i recall the details of the methodology but it seems that getting stitches/wounds wet is not as risky as previously thought and that dry dressings do little or nothing to promote healing. course, not having a dressing and engaging in less than sanitary activities would be of concern - maybe it was a very precise/clinical conclusion and not as "real world" as patients tend to be.
think i'd still be exercising caution though !!
paul
Yep there is sometimes conflicting advice about stitches. My o/h is a tissue viability specialist (wound specialist) & repeating the advice she gave above ^^^ won't get the stitches wet or change dressing unless they get wet/leak or so dirty they risk infection. However I had a very minor surgery on my back a few wks back & they told me to carefully wash the stitches after the first couple of days & coat in Vaseline each day as it makes the stitches easier to remove. The other half was most thrown by this to my amusement. Maybe it depends where & what type of stitches you have?i can't remember the exact conclusions nor do i recall the details of the methodology but it seems that getting stitches/wounds wet is not as risky as previously thought and that dry dressings do little or nothing to promote healing. course, not having a dressing and engaging in less than sanitary activities would be of concern - maybe it was a very precise/clinical conclusion and not as "real world" as patients tend to be.
think i'd still be exercising caution though !!
paul
We have an entire team devoted to wound infections, deep infections and tissue healing. If your knee replacement gets infected it is a disaster.
Best care is: Keep dry, use a dressing that absorbs exudate/leak, no credence to silver/honey dressings, don't keep looking at the thing/peeling it back because the infecting organism is usually external. Take out stitches if needed at 7-10 days
On the limbs this is the best evidenced based care. Fingers, face and scalp are different because of the copious blood supply, basically everything heals here.
References:
1. Clarke JV, Deakin AH, Dillon JM, Emmerson S, Kinninmonth AWG. A prospective clinical audit of a new dressing design for lower limb arthroplasty wounds. J Wound Care. 2009;18(1):5-9.
2. Laboratory Test Comparison of AQUACEL (R) Surgical Dressing 'New Design' and the Jubilee Method of Dressing Surgical Wounds. WHRI3264 TA180. October 7, 2009. Data on file, ConvaTec.
We use these: http://www.convatec.co.uk/products/wound/aquacel-s...
I think they cost £8 each, but re-do knee replacement costs £9000+
Best care is: Keep dry, use a dressing that absorbs exudate/leak, no credence to silver/honey dressings, don't keep looking at the thing/peeling it back because the infecting organism is usually external. Take out stitches if needed at 7-10 days
On the limbs this is the best evidenced based care. Fingers, face and scalp are different because of the copious blood supply, basically everything heals here.
References:
1. Clarke JV, Deakin AH, Dillon JM, Emmerson S, Kinninmonth AWG. A prospective clinical audit of a new dressing design for lower limb arthroplasty wounds. J Wound Care. 2009;18(1):5-9.
2. Laboratory Test Comparison of AQUACEL (R) Surgical Dressing 'New Design' and the Jubilee Method of Dressing Surgical Wounds. WHRI3264 TA180. October 7, 2009. Data on file, ConvaTec.
We use these: http://www.convatec.co.uk/products/wound/aquacel-s...
I think they cost £8 each, but re-do knee replacement costs £9000+
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