1 inch deep gash... now what!?

Question

I was riding my dirtbike and I wrecked... The peg on the bike put a 1 inch wide and approximent 1 inch deep gash just below my knee cap. I rode back home and im not sitting on my desk. There is no pain and the bleeding has stoped now. What should I be doing now? So im sure I need stiches, or will I? I pushed the skin back together and right now its just taped. How much do stiches cost? I dont have insurance sorry to say. :(

Thanks for all the help guys. Ill keep it clean and see a doctor soon.

Answer 1

Get in the shower and clean the wound really good.
Wash it with soap and try to flush it out really good with water. Once you are sure it is very clean use an antibiotic ointment on it.
Then make sure it is dry and bend your knee to make sure the skin will be stretched to it's limit. Pull the cut shut and then put small drops of Super-Glue on the skin to glue the cut shut. If done right it won't come open and it will heal really well. After a few days if you have any bad swelling or red streaks coming from the cut, go to the doctor because it is getting infected. Without insurance an ER visit will cost you a fortune. Definitely over a thousand dollars. Just do it yourself. If you don't want to use Super-Glue then use butterfly strips from the drug store. You can leave the wound open to heal from the inside out but you have to keep it very, very clean and maybe even pack it with a little guaze and change it every day. I would just Super-Glue it shut. Keep the Super-Glue on the outside of the skin though, don't squirt it into the wound. Just glue the outside skin together.
This method is used by many people. Especially in the wilderness were there are no doctors. It's an old survivalist trick. Now even emergency rooms are using liquid stitches. It's a skin adhesive like super-glue instead of stitches.

Answer 2

There is no way you can get real good advice on your injury from someone who can't examine you, even if they are a doctor.

But rule number one is to make sure the wound is CLEAN. You did not mention washing it but you should have washed it real well with an antibacterial soap.

If there is any hint of dirt still left in it you do not want to get stitches. Stitches will just trap the dirt and germs and you will be asking for trouble. Just putting antibiotic ointment on it and a sterile dressing would be better than stitches if the wound is not completely clean.

If the gash penetrated the joint or the patellar tendon, and you get a joint infection or infected tendon sheath it could be real serious and painful.

You need a tetanus shot if you have not had a booster recently.

Answer 3

stiches are the best way to prevent the wound from getting infected....

i work in trauma icu-see plenty of nasty cuts and open wounds...

the doctor that does the stitches will thoroughly clean the wound out with a normal saline wash to make absolutely sure there are no reminents of dirt or germs inside the cut itself before stitching it up...

you'll probably only need 2-3 stitches-they take about 2 weeks to heal and then can easily be pulled out. you might also be able to use a special glue-like material called dermabond-the doctor will apply this directly over the cut to seal it closed-it will dissolved once the cut is healed....

if you choose not to get stitches, you run the risk of the wound getting infected and you'll have a pretty nasty scar b/c the cut won't close evenly.....

stitches are not overly costly-usually around 300.00 if done in an urgent care of emergency room, less if done in the doctor's office....

but i would definitely get it looked at-infection risk is higher if the cut is left open

Answer 4

If you live near a free clinic or a university medical center, give them a call and ask if they do stitches for people without insurance. In the meantime, keep it clean and covered and if you see any signs of infection get to an ER immediately.

Answer 5

The problem is the location of the cut. Bending your knee may open it up. if you can tape it tightly enough so it will not open up, you should survive. As long as the bleeding has stopped, it should be okay. Make sure you keep it clean. you can buy what they call butterfly bandages. they will help keep the skin together. You might want to wrap your knee so that you can't bend it.

Answer 6

Watch for an infection. Keep it clean. At the first sign of an infection go to the doctor. It would be cheaper to go to the doctors office then the emergency room.

Answer 7

You need stitches. Go the the emergency room at the Hospital. Let their administration staff work out the costs, they have ways.

Answer 8

You need stitches. See a Doctor. It needs to be cleaned to avoid infection.

Answer 9

keep it clean and watch for infection I had something similar to that happen to my leg just above the knee cap and all i got from it was a scar.

Answer 10

you should probably get stiches for a 1" deep cut