Hey guys yesterday I sliced the inside of my index finger open along the inside of the first knuckle. It was pretty bad, but I didn't really think that stitches were necessary, I bandaged it up, after cleaning it out, and it seemed to stop seeping through the bandaids. So, 24 hours later I removed the bandages, and while it has healed up tenuously along some of it, the deepest part is still bleeding (albeit much slower than yesterday). I've dressed the wound again now.
Obviously I should've gone to get stitches, I misjudged how bad the wound was, but what I'm wondering is if there's any point in going 24h after the fact, and if not, will this thing heal up on it's own? Thanks guys!
edit: oh yeah, I'm fairly sure that it was the removal of the bandaids that may have opened up the wound a little bit, just because now matter how you do it, it tugs the skin near the cut. Should I be using gauze instead?
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edit: asked my cousins' husband who is a surgeon, he says yes to gauze and put some antibiotic ointment on it - it won't necessarily make it heal faster, but it will make it less painful
though if you take care of it right, it should be ok
I actually consulted the internet for that when I cut my finger but there were a lot of warnings about blood poisoning from certain kinds of crazy glue. That turned me off from the idea.
I'm sure someone sells liquid stitches then.
Also, I am not a doctor.
Use regular brand Krazy Glue that you can get literally at any store. I think its like 3 dollars at walmart or 5 dollars at your local corner store. Dont use the cheap chinese offbrands because yes, theyre probably made from all sorts of deadly chemicals.
For a cut to the finger, depending on where its located (inside/outside/top/bottom), the doctor/hospital might just use krazy glue anyway. The last couple times my dad has gone in for "stitches", they just ended up gluing it shut. Its easier for for awkward cuts and its also saves a follow up visit to get the stitches removed, since the glue eventually just degrades away.
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Yeah, I've had a few cuts in the past that were still bleeding 24 hours after I bandaged it. At this point, if you feel comfortable with a scar there, you might as well just try and butterfly bandaid it and let it heal on its own. Probably should have gotten stitches, but they are not always necessary.
Krazyglue/ethylcyanoacrylate MSDSs
http://www.krazyglue.com/products/msds/mkg0583_a.htm
http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/ET/ethyl_cyanoacrylate.html
An interesting article on medical use of the cyanoacrylates.
http://www.miracleglue.com/wounds.htm
A few friends and I tried a suture kit on someone who sliced his hand up out in the woods. It did not go well. I would put money on you being unable to sew your own hand up even if you could do a good job on someone else. I've used superglue on myself to good effect though.
Thanks all.
Having done it a bit (not on actual patients, just some cadavers and one quite patient doctor), the actual act isn't that difficult, it's doing it in a good looking/non-scarring way. That's what takes years of practice.
The superglue idea is a better one, but if it's a deep cut and you're in a situation where you can't or won't go to the hospital, you're better off leaving it open unless you can absolutely get it clean. Pack, cover, tape.
Seriously, butterfly bandages are the home version of stitches.
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/firstaid/bandage.htm#Laceration Closure
What kind of glue do hospitals use?
crazy glue
B.Glucose, brown sugar. And a sunlamp.