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Caring for stitches

5 replies

nicemarmot · 20/08/2024 15:51

Hoping someone can help with advice on how to look after cuts with stitches. We’re on holiday in France & my son fell off his bike yesterday afternoon, resulting in a nasty deep cut to his knee. Luckily the villa manager got us an appointment at the local medical centre and he had 2 stitches. The dr sent us away with a prescription, told to clean it, not to get it wet & no exercise. Gutted as he loves the pool and were looking forward to doing some kayaking. Picked up the prescription today & we’ve got gauze pads, some vials of sterile water & also bought some micropore tape. Really not sure how I’m meant to be cleaning it & wishing I’d asked more questions. Can anyone advise? His knee is stitched, then got some steri strips and gauze taped over the top. Am I meant to take everything off before I clean it, or do I leave the steri strips on? Am I meant to be cleaning around the cut or squirting the sterile water directly on the cut? Never had stitches before so not quite sure what I’m doing!

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 20/08/2024 21:44

Leave the steri strips on and clean round it, if it needs it. Don’t get it wet

nicemarmot · 21/08/2024 10:00

Thanks so much @DustyLee123 . I’ve tried to take of the gauze for the first time to check it. The bottom layer of gauze is stuck to the cut. Should I be changing this somehow??

OP posts:
nicemarmot · 21/08/2024 10:01

Adding a photo.

Caring for stitches
OP posts:
Blushingm · 21/08/2024 10:12

Take off gauze if you can. Leave steristrips a - if you get them wet they'll come off.

Just cover with a large sticking plaster type thing

Stitches usually out in a week

nicemarmot · 21/08/2024 10:51

Thanks @Blushingm, gradually getting the gauze off bit by bit- mainly seems to be dried blood. Stitches are scheduled to come out on Monday. Really hoping he can go swimming after that so he can enjoy the last bit of the holiday.

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