Sutured Wound Care
Sutures are stitches that can be used to close wounds. Taking care of your wound properly can help prevent pain and infection. It can also help your wound heal more quickly.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SUTURED WOUND
Wound care:
• Keep the wound clean and dry.
• If you were given a bandage (dressing), you should change it at least once a day or as directed by your health care provider. You should also change it if it becomes wet or dirty.
• Keep the wound completely dry for the first 24 hours or as directed by your health care provider. You may then shower. However, make sure that the wound is not soaked in water until the sutures have been removed.
• Wash the wound with soap and water daily or as directed by your
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This will help prevent infection and keep the dressing from sticking to the wound.
• Have the sutures removed as directed by your health care provider.
General Instructions:
• Take or apply medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• To help prevent scarring, make sure that you cover your wound with sunscreen whenever you are outside after sutures are removed and the wound is healed. Make sure to wear a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine or ointment, finish all of it even if you start to feel better.
• Do not pick or scratch at the wound.
• Keep all follow-up visits as directed by your health care provider. This is important.
• Check your wound every day for signs of infection. Watch for:
○ Redness, swelling, and
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• Raise the injured area above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down, if possible.
• Avoid stretching your wound.
• Drink enough fluids to keep your urine clear or pale yellow.
SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF:
• You received a tetanus and shot and you have swelling, severe pain, redness, or bleeding at the injection site.
• You have a fever.
• Your wound breaks open.
• You notice a bad smell coming from the wound.
• You notice something coming out of the wound, such as wood or glass.
• Your pain is not controlled with medicine.
• You have increased redness, swelling, or pain at the site of your wound.
• You have fluid, blood, or pus coming from your wound.
• You notice a change in the color of your skin near the injury site.
• You need to change the dressing frequently due to bleeding or drainage from the wound.
• You develop a new rash.
• You develop numbness around the injury