There is a 6 inch ditch in my yard, right next to the curb. My cousin was on her cell phone and stepped into the ditch, and then fell over the curb onto the street. She fell on her elbows, and got a big cut. Does it need stitches?
She says that it burns, even though it is now a half-hour later. We washed it with hydrogen peroxide and Neosporin. It is also bleeding through her band aid. The cut itself is about a little bit more than a centimeter down. It looks black in the middle, and is bleeding around it. There is also a bit of white in it.
Sorry to gross you out, but I'm really worried. Should she go get stitches?
2007-08-01 13:24:18 · 16 answers · asked by Steph 5 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
She probably won't need stitches unless it is really deep, since doctors like to let the amazing body we have heal itself. You say big cut - as in length? or in depth? or both? The scraped elbows is what I would worry about, that and the fact that she got the abrasions from the road (filthy). Those wounds really need to be flushed out really well. The skin near the elbows move with the movement of the hands and arms & with the shoulders too, so all the time you have the skin moving every which way (from above & below) as it is trying to heal (close up) -- that pulling, stretching, & pushing can cause a stinging sensation with each movement.
If you can cover the wound with a bandaid, I doubt you need stitches, but you may want to get the wound flushed out. Best of luck to you! And tell us how it all works out.
2007-08-01 14:25:28 · answer #1 · answered by Andy K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think chances of needing stitches to an elbow injury wouldn't be necessary. It's probably just very bruised and tender because that's an area that doesn't have much protection, like your shins. Just keep the wound clean with hydrogen peroxide several times daily and apply a bacteria cream like Neosporin. It probably has dirt in it and if you take her to the hosp. all they are gonna do is scrub out the wound with a toothbrush, apply anti-infection solutions, wrap it up, give her some pain pills, give you a big bill and send you home. Basically the same thing you can do at home with your own 1st aid kit minus the big bill.
2007-08-01 14:41:57 · answer #2 · answered by Ink Corporate 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
have an adult look at it.--seems to me what is black could be a problem if its dirt.--clean it again --run it under water --then peroxide and repeat.--if it is wider then the width of a nickel on its side then it may need stitches.--that area is a bad area to heal without stitches as the elbow bends.--if the cut isnt that bad then you just need to clean it and clean and apply neopsporin after every cleaning about 5 times a day for a few days.--dont bend the elbow.--also,keep the wound dry too which means taking a bath
2007-08-01 13:40:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as all your shots and boosters are up to date you should be fine. The ER will not help, they will have you do the same thing you are already doing. Save yourself the money and keep it clean and covered and watch for infection. FYI Tetany and Tetanus are 2 different things. Tetany is low blood calcium which causes muscle pains and tingling. The 2 are often confused because the names are similar and the symptoms are about the same. Tetanus is a disease caused by a chemical reaction produced by bacteria. Some symptoms are muscle stiffness and spasms. I am not a nurse, but my sister is an RN and I learned a lot from her over the years... Good luck!
2016-05-20 04:05:51 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should take her to get it checked out. If it's bleeding through the band-aid and is over a centimeter deep, take her to the ER to see a doctor-she may need stitches. Make sure you keep firm pressure on it!
2007-08-01 13:30:50 · answer #5 · answered by Eden Rose 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it appears deep, or doesn't stop bleeding in the next thirty minutes, I would say go see a doctor and get stitches. Unless it's really pouring out and shows no signs of healing by itself, I would see a doc.
2007-08-01 13:27:23 · answer #6 · answered by Eileen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well even if she doesn't need stitches she should go get it looked at. on the elbow, the white could be bone or just fat. either way there could be rocks in it and could possibly get infected.
2007-08-01 13:28:35 · answer #7 · answered by stone_fish6 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It seems like her womb is trying to stop bleeding my clotting. If it is still bleeding I think she should go to the doctors to get it check out...its safer that way.
2007-08-01 13:28:49 · answer #8 · answered by Taylor 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It doesnt sound deep enough to need stitches, I think she doesnt need stitches. If it's deep you should go into urgent care even and just see what they say.
2007-08-01 13:27:45 · answer #9 · answered by I ? Colbert 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
ask a doctor mayb go to the hospital if ur really worried (cute kitty picture awww)
2007-08-01 13:35:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋