Laceration Care in Children

Laceration Care in Children

A laceration is a cut that may go through all the layers of the skin. The cut may also go into the tissue that is right under the skin. Some cuts heal on their own.

Others need to be closed by stitches, staples, skin adhesive strips, or skin glue. Taking care of your child’s cut lowers the risk of infection, helps the injury heal better, and prevents scarring.

How to care for your child’s cut

Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your child’s wound or changing your child’s bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.

Keep the wound clean and dry.

If your child was given a bandage, change it at least once a day or as told by the doctor. You should also change it if it gets dirty or wet.

If the doctor used stitches or staples:

  • Clean the wound once a day, or as told by your child’s doctor.
    • Wash the wound with soap and water.
    • Rinse the wound with water to remove all soap.
    • Pat the wound dry with a clean towel. Do not rub the wound.
  • After you clean the wound, put a thin layer of antibiotic ointment on it as told by your child’s doctor.
  • Keep the wound completely dry for the first 24 hours, or as told by the doctor. Your child may take a shower or a bath after that. Do not soak the wound in water.
  • Have the stitches or staples removed as told by the doctor.

If the doctor used skin adhesive strips:

  • Do not let the skin adhesive strips get wet. Your child may shower or bathe, but be careful to keep the wound dry.
  • If the wound gets wet, pat it dry with a clean towel. Do not rub the wound.
  • Skin adhesive strips fall off on their own. You can trim the strips as the wound heals. Do not remove any strips that are still stuck to the wound. They will fall off after a while.

If the doctor used skin glue:

  • Try to keep the wound dry, but your child may briefly wet it in the shower or bath. Do not allow the wound to be soaked in water, such as by swimming.
  • After your child has showered or bathed, gently pat the wound dry with a clean towel. Do not rub the wound.
  • Do not allow your child to do any activities that will make him or her sweat a lot until the skin glue has fallen off on its own.
  • Do not apply liquid, cream, or ointment to your child’s wound while the skin glue is in place.
  • If a bandage is placed over the wound, do not put tape right on top of the skin glue.
  • Do not let your child pick at the glue. Skin glue usually stays in place for 5–10 days.

General instructions

  • Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s doctor.
  • If your child was given an antibiotic medicine, give it to him or her as told by the doctor. Do not stop giving the antibiotic even if he or she starts to feel better.
  • Do not let your child scratch or pick at the wound.
  • Check your child’s wound every day for signs of infection. Watch for:
    • Redness, swelling, or pain.
    • Fluid, blood, or pus.
  • If possible, have your child raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of his or her heart while he or she is sitting or lying down.
  • If directed, put ice on the affected area:
    • Put ice in a plastic bag.
    • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
    • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
  • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s doctor. This is important.

Get help if:

  • Your child was given a tetanus shot and has any of these where the needle went in:
    • Swelling.
    • Very bad pain.
    • Redness.
    • Bleeding.
  • Your child has a fever.
  • A wound that was closed breaks open.
  • You notice something coming out of the wound, such as wood, glass, fluid, blood, or pus.
  • Medicine does not relieve your child’s pain.
  • Your child has any of these at the site of the wound:
    • More redness.
    • More swelling.
    • More pain.
    • A bad smell.
  • You need to change the bandage often because fluid, blood, or pus is coming from the wound.
  • Your child has a new rash.
  • Your child has numbness around the wound.

Get help right away if:

  • Your child has very bad swelling around the wound.
  • Your child’s pain suddenly gets worse.
  • Your child has painful lumps near the wound or anywhere on the body.
  • Your child has a red streak going away from his or her wound.
  • The wound is on your child’s hand or foot, and: 
    • He or she cannot move a finger or toe.
    • The fingers or toes look pale or bluish.
  • Your child who is younger than 3 months has a temperature of 100°F (38°C) or higher.

Summary

  • A laceration is a cut that may go through all layers of the skin. The cut may also go into the tissue that is right under the skin.
  • Some cuts heal on their own. Others need to be closed with stitches, staples, skin adhesive strips, or skin glue.
  • Caring for a cut lowers the risk of infection, helps the cut heal better, and prevents scarring.
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