how do i clean and dress a deep finger cut?

[Pavlovthecat]

sliced into it with sharp knifing cutting onions while being distracted by child having a tantrum.

it is quite deep, not entirely sure a stitch would not be beneficial, will see how it goes. think the nail stopped it being too deep as it hit something, suspect i was the nail not bone. i have looked, but not too keenly as i appears i am suddenly quite squeamish!

not had a deep cut like this, since i was about 12 when i should have had stitches but didn't. it was deeper then than now. so how should i clean it? what with, and i think it is going to need a bit more than a plaster so what should i use?
i am asking as i cant seem to make sense with google and dh is on his way home so i can get him to swing by pharmacy if needs be

[dumb emoticon]

[EdsRedeemingQualities]

I would not clean it, Pav, if it were just onions. It will be very sore to do that.

Get it taped, or maybe make your own steri strips by cutting up some tape - it will minimise any scarring.

Keep it elevated a bit if you can to stop the bleeding.

[EdsRedeemingQualities]

I think actually go and get it seen to, if you can. I mean all they did with mine was strips and I still have a scar there - (potatoes ) but it sounds a wee bit deeper than mine.

[trinn]

I did this a few christmases ago, I just taped my finger up and hoped for the best

[Pavlovthecat]

dh just took alook (chef, has had his fair share of cuts) it is a deep 'flap', he never ever recommends hospital, he tends to think i am overly dramatic. but he says, it might need a stitch just to keep it together, but i think sterry strip and some gauze/sticky tape would do?

it is not bleeding too badly as my arm is up high! left hand luckily, but i have some typing work to do later!

[Pavlovthecat]

trin did hoping work?!

[beautifulgirls]

Soak it in salty water (level tsp salt in a pint of water, shouldn't sting like this) and then tape up with a plaster and keep it dry from there. If there is any doubt about it the please seek medical advice. They may actually just glue it?

[trinn]

hoping did work, it stopped bleeding a few hours later still have the scar mind.

[Pavlovthecat]

salt water? you sure it won't hurt?

ok, so it is bleeding a little, not much, cut is a bit awkward as it has cut through the bit of skin that holds the nail in place, but i can put a sterry strip (stereo strip as dh keeps calling it!) across the length, i think. if they stitched, or glued, that would be where they do it i reckon.

so, dh has nipped to boots, just down the road, to get small sterry strips, gauze and tape. i think if it's held together tight it should be ok and skin will knit together ok.

there is no nerve damage, as it hurts like hell

[Pavlovthecat]

and it is going to scar anyway, even if had a stitch as it is a deep flappy 'v' shape.

so, salt water - cold? warm? just stick my finger in it? [nervous]

[Pavlovthecat]

right, i did not brave the salt water, rinsed it in clean water. and OUCH it hurt!

And started bleeding heavily again so I put gauze on and bound it for a while. it has now stopped bleeding and the skin is pretty much where it should be, so I have sterry stripped it.

Now, do I have to leave it uncovered or can I/should I now cover it with gauze? It is right on the edge of the finger from the base of the nail (at the side) to the top of the nail so it is going to get knocked. DH said don't cover it, but I need to use my hand, so want it covered. Ideas?

[Pavlovthecat]

and now long do i need to leave the sterry strips on for? washing my hands is going to be tricky i will dig out my antibac gel from camping.

[EdsRedeemingQualities]

I think you need to cover it for the time being. What you need is some of those waterproof finger protector thingys. Boots might have them (sorry!)

The woman in minor injuries gave me a handful of plastic gloves last time I was in there. Just to stop things getting wet. That was a wrist splint though.

Steri strips for a few days till it starts to hold together by itself, keep it DRY, put a dressing (thin bandage) round it for now to stop it getting knocked and starting off again.

As long as it doesn't get wet it'll be alright. Easier said than done, I know.

[EdsRedeemingQualities]

I wouldn't bother with antibac either.

If it were a garden injury or something dirty then yes, but not a clean cut with a sharp clean knife indoors - that was already probably quite clean from chopping veg

[GwendolineScaryLacey]

I sliced a nice big flap out of my finger a couple of months ago. It was bleeding madly so I went to a&e. had it glued and a tetanus and although its healed now its left a big bump on my finger which they said will go eventually.

[EdsRedeemingQualities]

Oh I see what you mean about the gel! Sorry

Just try your best to keep it totally dry.

[Pavlovthecat]

gwendoline ouch!

[gingeroots]

Word of warning about finger stalls in that they are inclined to make the wound/dressing damp ,sort of make it sweat underneath .

Mepore film and pad ( smallest size and you might want to cut it in half ) is good on fingers because it's breathable and almost waterproof and conforms to the finger .
I do find it fiddly to put on - think covering books with that clear sticky back stuff .
A good chemist that is used to supplying dressings should have some .But make sure that they understand you want the transparent film one .

meporefilmandpad.co.uk/

And you might want to put a cotton finger dressing on top to keep it on a bit longer .
I like these ones from Superdrug www.superdrug.com/healthcare/superdrug-finger-bandage-6-dressings/invt/207409/


Good luck - fingers are a bugger to dress and keep clean and dry .

[Pavlovthecat]

thanks for that. I will let DH know. Now he has spent £9 on the other stuff he said when he came back from the shop 'you should have gone to A&E after all, they would have given you all this!).

I was thinking of just having the steri strip (now realise i was spelling it all wrong) on it's own overnight, no other cover, give it a chance to 'breath' ? I will go get some of those ones you are talking about, it won't hurt to have these things stocked in our first aid kit anyway.

[Pavlovthecat]

oh yes those finger things is what i tried to get dh to buy, he had no clue what i was talking about i will buy some of those tomorrow, better than clunky gauze and tape.

[gingeroots]

You might prefer the one on a roll with the "sugar tong " applicator ,like this
www.boots.com/en/Boots-Pharmaceuticals-Finger-Bandage-and-Applicator-1-6cm-x-4m-1121229/?CAWELAID=551425784&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Engines--Google%20Base-----Boots%20Pharmaceuticals%20Finger%20Bandage%20and%20Applicator%2016cm%20x%204m.

I usually use a bit of tape ,vertically rather than round the finger to secure it .
You can put two bits of tape ,one on the base layer of the cotton finger stall and then one on the top ,IYSWIM .

And there's a good dressing ,very thin foam ( will absorb any weeping blood etc ) non stick to wound bed and slightly tacky so easy to apply ,and you can cut to size .
I think it's this one www.molnlycke.com/Mepilex-1.aspx
Will need something on top to secure it .

And when you take the dressing off that you've put on soak it with some cooled boiled water if it's stuck as you need to minimise any trauma to the wound bed .

[gingeroots]

Sorry ,I'm obsessed with finger dressings ( my elderly mother has gout in her fingers and the tophi breaks through and they have to be dressed and I could find no one who had any expertise in that area ) and you've got me going now .
I really like the look of these ,easy to put on ,silver so will help if infected .
But you're not meant to use silver dressings for longer than 2 weeks at a time .
silverlon.com/silverlon-shop/category/tubular-digit-sleeves

[Pavlovthecat]

oh i like the look of those, nice and simple! the problem is, the cut is up alongside the nail upwards to the top of the finger (in a v shape) so the finger tube ones are probably better so it can cover the part of the cut at the top of the finger too, if that makes sense, those silver ones look good for if the cut is lower down/sliced across rather than length ways if that makes sense, but they do look quite professional!

[GwendolineScaryLacey]

God, I wish I'd posted here when I did mine. The dressings drove me up the bloody wall. I looked everywhere for those finger bandages and eventually concluded that I'd dreamt them.

[gingeroots]

ooh tricky ,trying to dress the tip of the finger /the finger pad bit is the worst .
The mepore film might work .

[Pavlovthecat]

gwendoline i often come onto mn instead of wading through shite on google these days [lazy emoticon] so many people with so many experiences, from sliced fingers to feast recipes with only a tin of beans, some onions and a bit of stale bread.