disolvable stitches hurting - do i need worry?

[tigi]

Hi, ds had a no op on arm 3 weeks ago. Under his plater are disolving stitches. He is complaing it hurts in this area. Do I need worry or is it the stitches naturally healing at 3 weeks. i don't know ho long they take to heal propertly?

IME a lot of dissolvable stitches don't dissolve. It may be that they aren't, and so are pulling as he heals. At 3 weeks, I wouldn't hesitate to take him to the GP, so the GP can take them out. Otherwise you might get a bit of scarring (as well as the discomfort)

HTH

They are under a plaster cast though, and he has wires in, so it would mean them dispturbing his arm to take the cast off. His wires are due out next week, and then he will be back in plaster for a further 3 weeks. So, I am trying to decide whether we should go back to hosp and have his cast off, or wait a day and see if settles, or just assume it will be uncomfortable because it is just naturally healing and twingeing as it does so. DH says i am neurotic!

I honestly think if he is complaining, he should have it looked at. It will be the doc's call as to whether he wants to take the cast off for a look. But pain can also mean an infection at the site - I wouldn't ignore it, things can turn nasty quickly. You aren't being neurotic, you are being sensible.
I'd ring the consultant's secretary, and tell her what your DS is saying without underplaying it, and see what the consultant says. He/she will probably want to see him.

they could also just cut a window in the cast to have a look. I would be phoning the hospital and asking for their opinion. It could just simply be it heeling and itching, but it could be an infection as you can't see what is going on under the cast - you could have a sniff down his cast to see if you can smell anything.

they could also just cut a window in the cast to have a look. I would be phoning the hospital and asking for their opinion. It could just simply be it heeling and itching, but it could be an infection as you can't see what is going on under the cast - you could have a sniff down his cast to see if you can smell anything.

Hi, I phoned the hospital and the Consultant asked to see him. He had an xray, but the wires are fine, and the bone hasn't moved, so thats really good. He thinks the wires are too long protruding from the skin, and at an angle, and maybe rubbing the skin. Also the stitches may be a problem, but it is too big a risk to take the cast off until his time is up next week when the wires are due out. He says its easier to fix the skin than the bones - I agree really! So we have to put up with a week of pain instead, and at least the bone will be healing!

Oh well done for seeing the doc. That is great. I didn't want to mention before but I have a friend who had soreness and itching under his leg cast (skiing accident age 17) - he complained, was ignored for a week, and when they finally had a look he had an infection, gangrene, and had to have his leg amputated at the knee. Bloody tragic. I always have that at the back of my mind with casts....

Glad yours is nothing like that

Oh Blimey! worried now! Especially now he says this morning 'mummy can you smell that smell?' - right in the middle where his stitches are! i couldn't though, but he says it is!

My ds broke his arm and by the time his cast came off it smelt horrible...no infection though. Just a combination of teenage boy and not being able to wash his hand or arm properly.