please asnwer urgently: do i need stiches?

Question

HI! I live in Europe and the reason I post this question here is because it is too late at night to call any of my family and friends for an advice. I managed to hit my head into a concreet pillar this evening (It is almost comedy story), and i have two cuts , just under my eyebrow, about 1-1,5 centiemeters long. They stoped bleeding after i desinfected them but seem to be deep. I wonder if I need stiches? In what cases are stiches made? And if I need them, do I need to go now to the emergrncy room or is it enough to wait till morning? I mostly expect answers from poeple who have qualificatins in the area of medecine. Thnak you in advance for all ur care and answers.

Thank you so much for the fast answers!! :-) To answer some of the questions for the sake of clarity: yes the bleeding has stoped. It is not painfull so much any more, and it is getting better. The cut still seems to be deep as the edges of the wound seem to be parted a bit. I definitely would not be happy to have big scars so I really need clarity about wether should i go to docotr at all, should I go now or can wait till morning? Thanks again

Answer 1

If the cut is thru the skin or has splayed open, you need stitches. To get by thru the night, you can make a butterfly bandage out of medical tape. Take a piece long enough to cover the wound and trim the center on both sides to an hourglass shape. Attach one end to one side of the wound and pull the skin together and tape it down. Make sure the hourglass part is over the wound. You may need several pieces to close it. Then take a 4x4 pad and tape it over the top to catch any bleeding and keep it clean during the night.

I was clumsy as a kid and this is what I did when I couldn't get to a Doctor.

It will work but on the face, you don't want a scar so use this and then get to a Doctor in the morning. The longer it is left open, the more chance of infection and scarring. The tissues swell to close the wound and make it nearly impossible to get no scarring after 12 hours or so.

Answer 2

If you plan to get stitches, you must go right away. If it starts to heal, they won't do it.

That depends on whether or not you want to have a big scar or a little one. With anything to do with your head, you should be checked for a concussion anyway.

My husband is a manly man (also known as an IDIOT). Well, he sliced his arm open TO THE BONE and it was about three inches long and an inch deep. The stupid macho man refused to go to the ER. Since he's bigger than me, no amount of berating, crying, whining, or forcing could have made him go. So, I stopped the bleeding, poured disinfectant on it until I made him cry (he deserved it) and then putt butterfly bandages on it. They are different than a bandaid (or plaster as you people call them) in that theu are only designed to hold the skin together, rather than cover the whole wound. Here in the USA, you can just go to the pharmacy, show them your wound (as long as you're not bleeding all over the place and acting crazy) and they will help you gather the supplies you need. I marched my much chastised husband into the pharmacy and made him show them his arm, tell all the pharmacists what he had done.... he was so embarrassed (I know I shouldn't get so much pleasure from it but he scared the crap out of me). Who likes to be reading a novel, then look up and find their husband bleeding all over the rug!?!?!

Anyway, good luck. If the cuts are at your temples, go to the ER immediately.

Answer 3

hey,

i'm a nurse so hopefully i'll be able to help you!
well first off, is it still bleeding?? if yes that's a sign you should probably go the Emergency Unit. Not sure hpw the health care system is in Europe but here in Canada you have to wait longg hours! so my next question would be, how deep is the cut and how bad is the pain? if your well enough to be on yahoo, i'm guessing your probably okay and early morning you should go to the doctors or the hospital, keep your head wrapped tight in a bandage to prevent further damage.

good luck:)

Answer 4

There is no fixed rule when stiches are needed and when not in cases like yours. It is beneficial that the sides of the wound touch when healing, to avoid large or ungainly scars. This can be done with stitches or tape or a special glue. You can go tomorrow if there is no bleeding.

Answer 5

if it is not bleeding than dont waste ur money on a er visit, unless u have good insurance..go to the pharmacy and get some butterfly bandages..it will pull the skin together to aid in healing with minimal scarage...make sure you wash the wounds with antibacterial soap and water before putting on the bandages..and after u do add another gauze bandage and place tape over it...it will be just like new in a few days

Answer 6

If the bleeding has stopped you can probably get away without having stitches but it will take a lot longer to heal and any scaring would be much more noticable. You also face greater risk if it opening up again and infection.

Stiches can be needle and thread of somesort of staple-like depending on the cut

Answer 7

Sorry about the bump. Bet that hurt!
Anyways, if it quit bleeding and you keep it clean it will heal. But, without stitches your risk of infection goes way up, it will take a lot longer to heal, and it may leave a really bad scar.

As for going tonight, you might as well. The sooner you have it done the better.

Answer 8

Go to the ER - if you wait 'til morning it will be too late for stitches even if you need them. You may just require a butterfly bandage, but someone really needs to SEE the injury to judge.

Answer 9

Yes. I did something of the similar thing and My cuts were just about thaat big but I still had to go get stiches SO go! Get going!!!

Answer 10

no you don't NEED them if the bleeding stopped just make sure its clean and well covered

you may WANT them though because the scar will be bigger with out stitches