Can a wound be re stitched?

[campingchocolate]

Teen has removed stitches from self harm cut ( tues) ... could it be re stitched? What to do... ?

Phone 111 and ask them for advice op

Most likely. My dog kept bursting her stitches. They stitched her up 3 times.

I guess I know that I need to get it re stitched.. but just struggling to get them to agree.. saying they will just take them.out again... is it pointless?

@campingchocolate yes, they can be restitched.
I’m so sorry you’re going through this with your teen. Massive hug.

Can be restitched. Antibiotic cover is likely required though as it's a reopened wound. Also, ask your child if she or he would rather staples. Sometimes I find that self harmers prefer a Staple as they don't feel they will remove them themselves.

I hasten to add staples in an upper limb are never my first choice, but sometimes they work better for the patient.

If the edges are fairly well opposed they might get away with glue or paper stitches
Hope they're OK, hope you're OK.

Thanks. There were 8 stitches.. if its not re done does it mean a big scar.. and higher infection risk.. or are there other things to consider? They are already covered in scars

I cant face trying to get her back to hospital again. And that makes me feel terrible.

How deep is the cut, and did it need internal stitches or just skin stitches? If it isn’t too deep, and doesn’t have internal sutures, it could heal from the bottom upwards, but there would be a bigger scar, and there is a risk of infection because they have interfered with it.

If you can get them back to the hospital, that would be the best s9lution, but if they absolutely won’t, then they need to keep it clean (with antiseptic) and covered with a clean, dry dressing, and it would need redressing if the dressing got dirty or stained.

They very rarely give stitches on wounds.
If they've taken it that seriously you really should go back. Hopefully your daughter could speak to the mental health team while there?

It was just skin stitches. They are already under camhs.. but no one available at the weekend.

This is based on not seeing the wound or knowing where on her body it is, or what was used ..

There will likely be a scar anyway, but it's minimised by the wound edges being opposed. Scar tissue becomes harder to close when it's reopened. I. E in repeat wounds to the same spot. Staples can be considered and we can always close a wound, it might not just be as "tidy".
Infection is a risk if there is tendon involvement, anything is put in the wound or it becomes unclean. Bear in mind even closed wounds can become infected.
I'm not sure how much use I can be but if you want to pm me a pic of the wound I'll hopefully be able to tell you if it needs closed again or not. I'm sure the last thing the child wants is to go to hospital again.

If she is expressing thoughts of life not worth living though, please do call your local MH or CAMHS team.

They very rarely give stitches on wounds

And just who is this "they" you speak of? Because "they" will almost always stitch up wounds of the wounds is deep enough to need it. What an odd comment...

Agree with Rosere and SDTG. I'm a doctor.

I know when I had a wound that needed stitches but hadn't been stitched within 48hrs of it happening (long story) they said it could no longer be stitched and had to be glued and butterfly stitches. Is there any sort if wound care they would feel better with, glue, staples etc? If it is left to it's own devices it may not heal properly at all!

Thanks for all the advice. It sounds like it might be able to be re stitches. I'll see if she can be persuaded. Unfortunately the reopening of the wound is just more self harm so she doesn't want it closed. I've cleaned it and covered it for now.

Try steristrips? You can buy those from a pharmacy, and since they are less dramatic they might suit someone who self-harms better, in a way.

I found this book very helpful and it is written from a UK writer so lots of useful information If you live in the UK.
The Parent's Guide to Self-Harm: What parents need to know by Jane Smith. It is on Amazon

It depends how recent the wound is - if it’s already healing then more stitches may not be appropriate/possible.