My wife has a cut, we need to know if she needs to get stiches or not?!


Question: My wife has a cut, we need to know if she needs to get stiches or not!?
Let me start by saying that she has no medical so going "just to see" isn't really an option for us cause to put it simply, we are broke!.

My kids knocked down a table lamp, the shade fell off!. My wife went to put it back, didn't notice that the lightbulb had broke and kinda stabbed and electrocuted herself!. It is on her wrist!. The cut isn't very long, 1/2 inch long and about 1/2 inch deep!. It bled a lot, she filled up an entire washcloth!. It has stopped bleeding now!. She says it hurts a lot!. It has swelled up a tiny bit!. There is no bone or muscle showing!. The cut didn't go straight down, it went at a slight angle, don't know if that means anything but am telling it all!.

I do not want her to not get medical care if it is neccesary, but am not sure if it is and a bandaid will do!?!?

Thank You!.Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
Because it is on a very functional joint (wrist) doubtful it will heal as nicely and with fewer complications than if she had stitches!.

Can try taking some thin strips of tape and try to approximate the edges together, then take the tape and tape it into place!. Hopefully, you can place the tape horizontal to the wound, and it does not entail the hand!.

Do clean the wound very well before you approximate the edges, and use a noninvasive wound cleanser like saline (0!.9% sodium solution)!. DO NOT use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol!. Do her a favor and see what you can find at Walmart for wound cleanser!. If the wound isn't cleaned properly, her risk of infection will be greater!.

If the strips can be placed (dressing tape is best) and will stay in place, then she doesn't need to remove them for a few days!.

The more healthy tissue you can attach the strips to, the better the chance the wound will stay closed!. Going by your measurements, use at least 1 inch of tape on each side of the wound in order to keep it closed, and use about 3, 1/8 strips, (2 inches long)!. That way air can circulate!. She can then use a light covering of gauze wrapped about 3 times!. Change the gauze daily!. I would put a small telfa (non stick dressing) before I put the gauze so that nothing will stick!. If it does stick, don't yank it, but rather wet it with the wound cleanser you're going to buy, until it can easily be removed!.

Good luck!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.do watch for symptoms of infection!. Some redness and swelling should be expected, but if it gets very hot and swollen and has excessive drainage, she more than likely has infection!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

it might get infected!.!.
you should buy that Spray band aid
and treat it with alcohol and make her take
antibiotics for the pain,
if she touched metal as she got cut
she will have to take a tetanus shot!.!.

you should take her to the doctorWww@Answer-Health@Com

Yes she needs stitches!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

OK the light bulb thingy bothers me!. Most bulbs have Tungsten in them, which is not friendly to the human body!. Also the electrocution part is not good,(easy on the meds until your SURE she hasnt been really zapped!) and a jagged cut could be worse than it looks!. If you really dont want to go to the E-room, and your sure she isnt suffering from the shock, get some hydrogen-peroxide,(its cheap), open the cut up and really pore the stuff in there, use lots!! !. Then you can put some butterfly bandages on it to help hold it closed!. ANY red streaks forming in the next few days means infection, get her to the doc!!Www@Answer-Health@Com

if it was a regular light bulb you should be ok!. Can she move all fingers normally!? If not probably you should see someone!. Start with a nurse they have a lot of common sense!.

If the light bulb was a fluorescent, then you must have it checked by a doctor because those bulbs use toxic coatings inside the bulb which can dramatically affect healing!.

If otherwise all ok, keep elevated above the head if possible, make sure it wont break open and that you dont hit the wound by accident!. The light bulb itself should be rather sterile because of the heat of the incandescent bulb!. Aspirin, Tylenol or Motrin for the pain should be ok!.Www@Answer-Health@Com





The consumer health information on answer-health.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2011 answer-health.com -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Categories