Stitches

Any tips to prevent infection in my stitches?

I got stitches in my finger a few days ago... I had a nasty incident with a car door that ripped out my ENTIRE fingernail (nail matrix and all). The doctor in the ER said that it was a bad enough injury that my fingernail probably won't grow back... so I am doing all I can to help it heal well. I have to keep my stitches in for 8 to 10 more days. I have been taking my antibiotics that the doctor prescribed as scheduled, and I've been changing the bandages 2 or 3 times a day (and applying the antibiotic ointment that the doctor gave me in the ER). I was told not to soak the wound and to keep it dry as much as possible. So far, everything looks good (or as good as a stitched up finger can look, LOL)... I was just wondering if anyone had any advice for keeping stitches clean and infection-free? I've never had stitches before, so it would be nice to hear some tips from people with a little experience with this sort of thing. The doctor in the ER wasn't exactly helpful. Thanks!!

Public Comments

1. your best bet would do exactly what the doctor told you. also go to the store and buy some bactine, spray it on you stitches when your about to go to sleep, wake up, and after showers. you'll be just fine. good luck!
2. Keep it covered and clean for now! Don't forget your pain pills... LOL... :-) you'll need them!... I had finger surgery and I had to keep it covered for 1 week! Just hang in there kid! You'll pull through just fine!
3. Sounds like your doing the right things. Keep your stitches completely dry for the first 24 hours. You can gently wash your hair once you get home - STEP 2: Dry your stitches off immediately after bathing, showering or any other time they get wet, until it's time for your doctor to remove them. STEP 3: Clean your stitches twice a day or as ordered by your doctor. Follow cleaning by dabbing a thin layer of antibiotic ointment over the top of your stitches. STEP 4: Apply the ointment with a cotton swab from the center of the wound outward - a crucial detail to avoiding the possibility of dragging germs into your wound. STEP 5: Examine your stitches and wound for signs of infection, such as increased redness and swelling or pus droplets, each time you clean your stitches. STEP 6: Smell your stitches. If they have a distinctive sickly odor, the wound underneath may be infected. STEP 7: Check for numbness or tingling below your wound - another symptom of infection. For example, if you have 10 stitches on the top of your hand, and three of your fingers develop numbness on the fourth day, you may have an infection. STEP 8: Avoid hitting or bumping your wound against anything. Stitches are strong but not impervious. In the hospital, stitches are cleaned using betadine swabs, large cotton swabs saturated in betadine (also known as povidine-iodine 10 percent), which is a topical antiseptic germ killer. Stitches tend to get crusty and dry, so you may have to wipe the swab over the wound and allow the betadine solution to rest for a minute before being able to swab away the wound exudate. It's acceptable to use a nonsterile cotton swab to apply your ointment if your wound is small. But for large, deep wounds, invest in a package of sterile cotton swabs and apply your ointment with them. Besides acting as a germ killer, your ointment will also help keep stitches and skin suppler and less tight-feeling. Make sure not to swim or soak your stitches in water. For deep wounds that require multiple stitches, check your temperature every day for the first seven days. A low-grade fever can be an indication of a systemic infection, possibly as a result of your wound. Watch out For: Redness that goes beyond the basic edge of the wound Fever over 100 degrees (sign of an infection) Any unusual coloring or discharge, including pus Unusual tenderness or swelling. Remember, you will experience the most tenderness in the second day, but it should subside each day thereafter. If there is any indication that this is not happening, contact your doctor. Stitches that come out sooner than expected. If this happens, contact your doctor immediately.
4. I would think you should let it air out and so maybe keep the bandages off at night. Doctors usually say to air wounds.
5. i guess i would know a little about stitches seeing as how i cut over half my foot up with a lawnmower. what your er doc told u is best but u could wash them everyday( just once u don't want the skin to dry out) with an antibacterial soap. and allow it to airdry. then bandage it up like u normally would. after you take the stitches out, use a intensive moisturizer on UNBROKEN skin. don't put it on it until all the wounds have healed, to keep the skin from drying out, this will be important if ur nail doesn't grow back.