Stitches

Do I Need Stitches? How Should I Care For This Cut? (Almost 1/2 Inch Deep)?

So I was doing some homework and ended up dropping an exacto knife right on my big toe! It was sticking straight out of my foot it was pretty crazy. Anyway the cut is about 1/8ths of an inch wide and judging by that(I measured the exacto knife afterwards because I was amazed I had actually done this to myself) about 3/8ths(almost 1/2 inch!) deep. I applied pressure on it and poured rubbing alcohol on it and it stopped gushing blood after about 10 minutes. Since it was such a clean cut do I need to get stitches? It's so small I wouldn't think so, but am concerned because it's fairly deep. How should I care for it besides keeping it clean?

Public Comments

1. As long as you're are no longer gushing blood you shouldn't need stitches. You will need to keep a bandage on it to keep the wound closed. You will also need to keep the area very clean.
2. Listen, as clean as you've gotten it, you really should get it checked as it is a puncture wound, and you will need a tetanus shot if you have not had one in the past 7 years or so. Especially since it is deep and the knife blade was likely not clean. You may not need stitches if the bleeding has stopped.
3. Well, if your injury is less than 4 hours old, they could stitch it up. Your wound doesn't require suturing, but that would make it heal up a bit faster. In the mean time, keep it clean dry and covered. Don't wear shoes unless you really have to. Wearing shoes will make it a breeding ground for all kinds of infection. Can you walk with this? If not you should see a doctor. The big toe is quite important to walking, so you don't want to mess with it. Good luck.
4. This is a puncture wound with a high risk of deep anaerobic infection. You should have a tetanus shot and medical treatment. It is not likely to be stitched.