
Otherwise, they may recommend stitches or surgery. In some cases, a doctor may recommend leaving the wound open to heal on its own. They will then clean the wound, removing dead tissue and contaminants, a process known as debridement. Before examining the finger, they may offer a numbing injection to help alleviate any pain. If a cut finger is large and deep, a doctor will need to look at the injury.

elevating the hand to reduce inflammation and swelling.covering the finger with a bandage or dressing to slow bleeding and prevent infection.applying petroleum jelly to moisten the wound and help promote healing.cleaning the affected area quickly with soap and water.In addition to reducing the likelihood of infection, treatment can restore appearance, stop bleeding and restore normal function.When a person cuts their finger, they should try to stop the bleeding and assess the severity of the injury.įirst aid for a cut finger injury involves: Most lacerations benefit from being closed with staples or stitches, especially if the wound exceeds a half-inch in length. It can also be somewhat difficult to align the edges of a wound for stapling, and some patients may have adverse psychological responses to the idea of stapling. On the downside, staples are more expensive than stitches. Fewer Infections: Stapling is associated with lower tissue reaction and a lower risk of infection when compared to stitches.Quick placement: Stapling is about three to four times faster than traditional suturing.In general, staples offer a few advantages over stitches, including:
Cut fingers with staples professional#
On the other hand, it usually only takes one health care professional to close a wound using stitches.
Cut fingers with staples skin#
Staples also generally require two healthcare professionals – one to align skin using a forceps, and one to apply the staples. That said, staples require a special tool for removal, while stitches require a simple pair of scissors. In most cases, staples are easier to remove and allow for quick wound closure with minimal inflammation. Usually, a physician will determine the choice of materials and technique based on his or her experiences and preferences. Stitches or Staples: The Advantages of EachĪlthough they differ in many ways, staples and stitches are cosmetically equivalent when it comes to scarring. Staples may be used on the abdomen, legs, arms, scalp or back however, they should not be used on the neck, feet or face.

They may also be curved, straight or circular and are generally used during procedures that must be performed quickly, or in areas of the body that are difficult to stitch. Usually comprised of stainless steel or titanium, they can also be made from materials such as nickel, chromium, plastic or iron. These stitches are usually derived from specially processed animal products or synthetic polymer materials, such as polydioxanone (PDS), polyglyconate (Maxon), polyglycolic acid (Dexon) or polylactic acid (Vicryl).Ĭomprised of metal, staples are usually necessary to close deep lacerations, which aren’t appropriate for ordinary stitches. Absorbable sutures are typically part of a more complex, multi-layer wound closure, which require the need to be absorbed since they are buried in a deeper tissue level. In some cases, however, doctors will use absorbable stitches, which the body breaks down over time.

Generally, the patient will wear stitches for a certain number of days, until the wound has healed enough to have them removed. Stitches are silk, nylon, or polypropylene (prolene) threads which are sewed through skin to bring a wound together. With that said, they each have specific benefits and limitations that make them more – or less – appropriate for certain situations. Stitches and staples are both used to close surgical incisions and wounds.
