How to take care of your stitches or staples ?
Many people will have surgery in their lifetime. For example, appendicitis, which requires several tens of thousands of French people to undergo surgery every year.
To access the targeted area, the surgeon must then cut the skin. Once the operation is over, it is impossible for the skin to close by itself as for a classic wound.
To ensure that the skin heals properly, the surgeon will then put in place stitches using surgical thread or staples. No matter what method you choose, it will probably still be present when you return home. That's why we will give you some tips on how to care for this wound.
Identify the means used
The first part will be easy, it will aim to identify if you have stitches or staples. For that, a simple glance will allow you to be quickly aware of the situation.
If it is stitches, ask the doctor or a nurse if the sutures are absorbable or not. Indeed, sometimes, the nurse will not have to cut the threads.
In this case, the chosen thread is special and has the ability to absorb itself. It is quite rare, but it is often used for the hard-to-reach areas, n’so don't hesitate to ask.
How to treat my wound ?
Very often, you will not have to take care of your wound. Indeed, in the first days at least, surgeons prescribe the passage of a nurse to carry out the cleaning of your wound.
Nevertheless, we will explain you how to do it if you have to do it. The first step is of course to wash your hands so as not to bring germs to this very sensitive area.
Then, you will simply have to clean your wound with soap and water. An antiseptic such as Betadine or Chlorhexidine may be prescribed, but it is not necessarily the case. Think carefully about go over everything without rubbing too hard to avoid tearing the stitch or the staple.
What signs should I look out for?
Unfortunately and despite all the care you can bring to your wound, it happens that it ends up get infected. We will therefore help you to interpret the signs that should alert you.
The first thing to watch is the inflammation. Fatally, it will be present since it is a wound. Nevertheless, it is necessary to monitor its evolution and especially to check the absence of discharge that would translate an infection.
Finally, it will always be necessary to to ensure that the stitches and staples are still in place and that the edges of the wound are always joined. If you have any doubt, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor.