Table of contents:
- Why do the wounds need stitches?
- 1. The size of the wound
- 2. Bleeding
- 3. The location of the wound
- 4. The cause of injury
- First aid when injured
Minor wounds generally only need to be bandaged or can even heal on their own without being given any medication. However, you should know if the wound you have really doesn't need further treatment? The reason is, some wounds that were thought to be small, turned out to require medical action such as stitches. So, in order to know what kind of wound that needs stitching, let's look at the following explanation.
Why do the wounds need stitches?
Sewing the wound is intended to close the skin tear, so as to stop bleeding, prevent infection and prevent the tear from getting deeper. Stitching the wound itself uses threads made of various materials such as nylon or silk.
Dr. Purva Gover of the Cleveland Children's Pediatric Emergency Departments says it's sometimes difficult to determine whether or not a wound needs to be sutured. However, he recommends everyone, especially parents, to know the signs of wounds that require stitches in order to provide proper first aid to children.
Here are some things that need to be considered to determine whether the wound should be sutured or not.
1. The size of the wound
How big the wound looks is the main consideration whether stitches are needed to close it or not. Pay attention to the depth and width of your wound. When the wound is wider or has a depth of more than 1.2 cm, it will need to be sutured together.
Likewise, if there are glass fragments or other sharp objects stuck in the wound. If the wound reveals subcutaneous tissue, muscle or bone, then you need to go to the hospital immediately.
2. Bleeding
You can also determine whether to suture the wound or not by looking at the amount of blood that comes out. Blood that continues to flow and doesn't stop even after 10 minutes of pressure indicates that the wound needs stitches to stop the bleeding.
When experiencing this condition, seek medical help immediately before you bleed profusely.
3. The location of the wound
Whether or not stitches are needed also depends on which part of the body is injured. A wound that is where two joints meet, especially if the injury occurs when you move the joint, requires stitches. Suture closure is necessary because there is a possibility of damage to the ligaments and tendons.
You should also pay close attention to wounds that occur around the genitals and face, especially the eyelids because they have the potential to interfere with the function of these organs.
4. The cause of injury
Some types of wounds don't even require stitches. The cause determines what kind of wound care needs to be done, especially for wounds caused by animal bites or sharp rusty objects.
In wounds like this, the risk of infection is greater, including infection with the rabies virus. Injection tetanus booster or antibiotics are needed to cure it.
First aid when injured
Even if you still have trouble recognizing the signs, if you have a minor accident such as accidentally cutting your own hand, you should still take the first aid steps.
Press the bleeding area with a clean cloth or cotton for 5 to 10 minutes. When the bleeding stops, clean the wound carefully with water without rubbing it. Finally, wrap the wound with a bandage. If the bleeding doesn't stop you should go to the hospital immediately.
