Help! DS has shredded his knee (photo)

[PolkaDotMankini]

We're on holiday and pretty far from anywhere. We can get to a pharmacy but not a doctor. Does this need stitches, butterfly strips or just a big dressing? We can't just leave it due to the environment we're in (tropical diseases are a possibility).

A big dressing. If I could get hold of some inadine I would use that to draw out any dirt/infection. But otherwise a non stick dressing and some savlon or germolene. It will be fine. I did this to my palms last week and 6 days later one is still not completely healed.

I’d spray with antiseptic spray and cover with a big dressing, changed regularly. Keep it dry

My did exactly the same the week before we went to Greece! If it's possibe to get steri strips I would use those, if not don't worry just a big dressing. My ds missed the window for steri strips (it's a long story), so he's going to have a scar - he doesnt care!

it doesn't look deep enough to require stitches in my opinion but I'm no doctor. I'd make sure it is kept clean and with a dressing/ large plaster on etc. I had some quiet bad similar looking cuts as a child myself none of which required stitching and heeled well although I still have small scars on my knees to this day. I'm sure itll be fine.

I agree with a big non stick dressing. Although I’d probably put a proper non stick pad under it first because some of the dressings claim to be non stick but are definitely not. I disagree with using savlon type stuff. NHS advice is just to use water on a wound or sterile wipes. I’d leave the dressing on for maximum 48 hours before changing it so you can check it.

Thanks! He's got deep gouges with the flesh (deeper than the top level of skin) hanging on by pure stickiness. I'll get some dressings.

Antiseptic spray or wipes and a big non stick dressing. I cant see anything that would or could be stitched.

Really important to make sure it’s properly clean OP if it’s got flaps. You don’t want it to get infected. Then as others have said keep it clean and dry and keep checking it. Maybe give some calpol before giving it a really good clean as its likely to hurt.

The pharmacy didn't have steri-strips but they did have hydrocolloid dressings so he's got one of those on and we'll change it in a couple of days.

Well, he's healing nicely but you can see the pits where the edges were left gaping. Three different pharmacies hadn't heard of steri-strips or butterfly strips. I feel bad we didn't get his knee stitched TBH as non-surgical wound closure clearly isn't a thing here.

Yes that’s what my ds looked like whilst it was healing, I must admit I was a bit sad about it. It’s healed now and yes there’s a raised scar but he really couldn’t care less!

You can cut micropore tape into strips as diy steristrips for future reference.

Brilliant idea!!

🤦‍♀️ of course you can. What an idiot I am not to think of that! Thanks for the tip!