Sliced my pinky finger pretty good while washing some glassware on Sunday. Immediately slapped a couple of "butterfly" bandages on it, covered it up with a couple of regular bandages. Seems to hold and not bleed until I bang it on whatever (I work at a pretty physical job, and can't avoid such things), yet still bleed it does... I have changed the dressings probably 5 times since Sunday morning.

Is there an exact science as to when you should head over to the Doc, and let him/her sew you up?

 

if it still bleeds several days after, you need stitches.

 

I'm not sure of the exact time frame but there is a cut-off time where the doctors will not stitch...I know this because I cut my finger one day, went to the docs two days later and they said it's too late to stitch...keep it clean, bandaged and hope for a cool looking scar...but I'm not a doctor..

R/
Crai

 

Last time I had something like that, the doctor said after 24 hrs, you don't put in stitches.

 

i work in a machine shop and slashing fingers is an everyday occourance..
i bet i've done this thousands of times..

too late now for stitches..
best thing to do is a little neosporin and a new bandage and then white waterproof tape it (seal it up good) and Leave It Alone for a couple of days..

if you can before hand..try to trim off the skin on both sides thats "folding over"..you know what i mean...

...dr. zap!

 

when i cut myself pretty deep i hold the cut together till it sticks and then put on super glue to help hold the skin then use a band-aid.

 

that works good on fresh ones but in this case
too much time has elapsed

...zap!

 

Thanks for all the replies everyone... Yup, I knew it was too late for the doctors office, having made my choice to stay home Sunday and enjoy it.

But let's say the slice just happened... What would be a good way to judge whether or not you have to go get stitches, besides my wife grimmacing in the background?... At what point does spit and chewing gum just not cut it?... (pardon the pun).

(Zapster.. the fold over came off this morning prior to 4th dressing LOL)

 

when it "just happens"

let it bleed for a couple of mins..

clean it out real good and do as i said from the neosporin on and you'll be good to go...

i dont get stitches unless the tendons or something MAJOR has gone wrong..

wrap it tight ..but not to the point of making the finger/thumb go to "sleep"

...zap!

 

I've had a doctor refuse to stitch a cut that was 12 hours old. It was about 8 years ago but if I remember right he said that they usually won't stitch after an 8 hour time lapse. Butterfly bandaids are your friend. Takes Zaps advise but remember also, when you wrap your finger, wrap it in the relaxed position. If you wrap it and keep it straight the tendons shrink up and you won't be able to bend your finger after it's healed.

 

As a rule of thumb, sutures are often required to close a laceration when:

1.The injury is more than 0.25 in.(6.4 mm) deep.
or
2.The injury goes down to the fat, muscle, bone, or other deep structures such as visceral organs.
or
3.The injury is over a joint, especially if the wound opens when the joint is moved.
or
4.The injury site continues to bleed after 15 minutes of direct pressure.

Time limits:
1. In most cases dirty cuts or crush injuries, must be closed within 6 hours after the injury.

2. A laceration from a clean object, such as clean kitchen knife or in your case glassware, may be treated from 12 to 24 hours after the injury.

3. Lacerations that have an increased risk of becomming infected may not be closed until after 24 hours, or may not receive sutures at all. This is done to promote adequate cleaning and antibiotic treatment to prevent infection.

4.Injuries suffered to the face can be treated up to 24 hours after the injury provided that the wound is cleaned and treated with topical antibiotics. Treatment may be done for cosmetic appearance to reduce scarring.

Initial assessment and cleansing are critical to promoting successful healing of any wound. Secondary infections (i.e. Staph ) can lead to painful, debilitating, disfiguring, and possibly life threatning conditions.

Ox

 

Works like a charm and it's non toxic. I learned that from a Corpsman.