Laceration Emergency Room in El Paso
Deep or wide lacerations require medical assistance, as they may require stitches or staples. Stitching and stapling both for:
Promote faster healing.
Help keep bacteria out of the wound.
Reduce the chance of infection.
Prevent unsightly scarring.
A cut big enough to need stitches should be repaired within six hours of the injury. Cuts to the face and scalp should be repaired up to 24 hours after the injury; unless they are deep scrapes, which grind dirt into the skin.
If a laceration is caused by gravel or penetrating glass or metal, an x-ray is required to make sure no fragments remain within the wound. Fragments can result in permanent damage to skin and greatly increase infection risk.
To prevent infection in a laceration, you must get medical attention immediately. Signs of infection include:
Redness
Swelling
Draining pus.
Increased pain or tenderness a day or more after the injury.
A medical professional cleans the wound and administer a tetanus or booster shot. In some cases, a doctor will prescribe an oral antibiotic.
You should seek emergency medical attention if:
The wound is on your face.
The area feels numb — sometimes nerve injuries cause weakness, paralysis, or loss of sensation.
The wound is deep or jagged.
You can see fat, muscle, or bone; or suspect the laceration is over a joint.
The laceration (or puncture wound) is caused by an animal or human bite.
You have not had a tetanus shot in the past 5 to 10 years.