stitches?

tkeaton

tkeaton

Master Velocipede Alchemist
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Chattanooga
how would one determine if they needed stitches?

say.....for a box cutter blade puncture wound on the underside of the forearm?

ya know, just hypothetical
 
if you can open the wound, pore about a teaspoon amount of salt inside, then be able to close wound without being able to see the salt... try this then get back with me :flipoff2:
 
I'm no Doctor, but I slept with one this one time...

I would GUESS that if you can't get the wound closed and hold it closed by conventional means (band-aid, butterfly, superglue), then it would require stitches.

Just a guess.
 
i just always use the if i can't get it to stop bleeding in 10-15 minutes method, or if i can't keep it from reopening. the smart thing to do is just go to the doctor... i've had wounds i didn't think really needed stiches but they did, and some i thought needed stitches but they didn't...
 
Well depends on how deep. and it is cut into anything else besides just skin. I have cut my self pretty deep with one and just taped the skin back together with um..well...tape and gauss and a few hours later it was starting to re attach.

I would say if you think you need them and you normaly would not go to the doctor for minor cuts then you most likely should go.

So how did you do it :D
 
burley said:
if you can open the wound, pore about a teaspoon amount of salt inside, then be able to close wound without being able to see the salt... try this then get back with me :flipoff2:
Click to expand...

Ouch!!
 
I prefer super glue.. works great...

But I have used duct tape over a folded up paper towel before so I could keep working..
 
Wish I was there, I've been carrying a suture kit in the first aid kit for the jeep just waiting for the opportunity to stich someone up on the trail. I think I can do it, just want to try.
 
Taylor, I have read you posts, and you seem bright enough. THese guys can tell you a lot about 4X4's, but as far as I know none are MD's. Go to the infirmaroy at your school or just go on to the docs, they will tell you.
 
Don't listen to him^.
This is your best bet.

burley said:
if you can open the wound, pore about a teaspoon amount of salt inside, then be able to close wound without being able to see the salt... try this then get back with me :flipoff2:
Click to expand...


:flipoff2:
 
tryin to tear down the box on a damn gocart at work (rhymes with borthern fool), knife slipped and went pretty deep in the fleshy underside of the arm

im gonna wait til i get home and take the bandages off (the first filled with blood) and then make a decision

i have a damn oral presentation tonight so whatever i do (nothing, go to dr., pass out, etc) is gonna have to wait til then

the only reason i asked was every other time i needed stitches it was either in a place i couldnt see or i was unconscious
 
Go get some gun powder and pour it in the cut. Then ignite it. This will fuse your skin closed and stop the bleeding. Now, now, now no ifs ands or buts. Go do this now. Be a man. :D
 
ridefast said:
tryin to tear down the box on a damn gocart at work (rhymes with borthern fool), knife slipped and went pretty deep in the fleshy underside of the arm

im gonna wait til i get home and take the bandages off (the first filled with blood) and then make a decision
Click to expand...

So it seems to be this is gonna be a workman's comp issue either way, huh? Set yer pride aside and go to the dr., ya got nothin' to lose, it should not even cost you anything. Hell if the Dr say "it's nothin'" then just don't tell us you even went...
I'm not a Dr either (nor do I play one on TV) but I do (almost) have an advanced degree w/ "and Anatomy" in the title, and I can tell you this. There are important things in your arm you don't want to get infected, like nerves. Skin and muscle grows back quickly, but those take along time and a real PITA if they get screwed up. That would really bite.
 
oh dont worry, no pride issues here, not tryin to "take it like a man" either, i know the potential risks, im just tryin to determine if this is a go-right-now urgency or if i can hold off and see how it does

its not bleeding through the bandage, like it did the first two times, so im thinkin im goin to head to class and make a decision afterwards.....

thanks for all the helpful (creative as well :flipoff2: ) info
 
STICHES

I would like to try .20 safty wire, it make such a neat job, using the proper safty wire pliers. :)

If you are worried enough to ask this crowd, you better go to the emergency room. You have to be delerious from blood loss. :D :D
 
RatLabGuy said:
So it seems to be this is gonna be a workman's comp issue either way, huh? Set yer pride aside and go to the dr., ya got nothin' to lose, it should not even cost you anything. Hell if the Dr say "it's nothin'" then just don't tell us you even went...
I'm not a Dr either (nor do I play one on TV) but I do (almost) have an advanced degree w/ "and Anatomy" in the title, and I can tell you this. There are important things in your arm you don't want to get infected, like nerves. Skin and muscle grows back quickly, but those take along time and a real PITA if they get screwed up. That would really bite.
Click to expand...

I'm with RatLab here. I'm not a big fan of stopping what I'm doing to make a trip to the Doc's to get a stitch or two. But when it happens at work, you should take advantage of the care. Box cutters usually make a very clean cut and will heal rather fast, if you can keep it clean and the infection out. I'm not a Doc either but am an EMT and have been known to be a crash test dumby a time or two.
 
My vet gave me a few surgical staple guns and showed me how to use 'em. You aint lived until you've stapled your egg together at 1 am. :flipoff2: I carry one in the first aid kit now. Fawk glue, staples rock. Well, at least till you gotts to figure out how to get 'em out. (the step my vet left out :lol: ) "Hey man, pass me those needlenoses willya?"
 
I do know that if you wait too long, they won't be able to use stiches. Don't ask me how I know.
 
Ratman said:
Fawk glue, staples rock. Well, at least till you gotts to figure out how to get 'em out. (the step my vet left out :lol: )
Click to expand...

There's actually a killer little tool for that step also! Got one around here somewhere, but no way it'll work as good as the needlenose... just grab 'em and yank real hard! :flipoff2:
 
stitched

Just pack it with lard and put then throw some flour on it to stop the bleeding.We use to do that all the time on the farm.the hogs didnt seem to mind. :D
 
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