super glue

[Medicine Man]

It's the depth that often dictates the method of closure a deep wound needs the bottom edges brought together as if a space is left it can trap bacteria. suturing is the best alternative, for superficial cuts a variety of methods can be used some have a better long term cosmetic appearance than others.

There are two reasons why older wounds are often not sutured one is infection and the second is that the sides of the wound will curl in. This forming a puckered scar. There is a way around this but not for the faint hearted.

[JamesMR]

Medicine man, i've been meaning to ask you.

Say for example I cut my leg (just for example, could be any body part) fairly deeply, would placing alcohol hand gel inside be an effective method of preventing infection? I havn't got any penacillin or anything like that so in a SHTF situation I probably wouldn't have much of a choice, wouldn't want to use hand wipes or anything on a large wound.

Would love some advice

[Medicine Man]

I wouldn't put alcohol in a wound but it's ok for cleaning the skin surface before puncturing or cutting it. This prevents surface bacteria from entering through the hole

If you don't have any specialist products or means to close it, plenty if clean water is the may to go. Then pack and cover it.

[Lucky Jim]

Why do hospitals still stitch people if superglue is available?
If we've got a gash do they give us a choice whether we want to be stitched or glued?
I'm squeamish and would prefer glue.
PS- And I think there's a third alternative something called 'butterfly plasters?

[moocher]

Superglued our American bulldogs ear shut,as every time it's shook it's head it opened the scab up an sprayed blood upthe walls.
A pig hunter gave me that tip he's been mending his dogs years like it.

[Lucky Jim]

I keep plaster strip like this around the house, you cut it to size to suit the size of the gash and I should imagine it'd do nicely as a reasonable alternative to stitches.
No matter what size you cut it to, the sticky bit never touches the gash-

[JamesMR]

The whole point in stitches is when a wound / incision / gash is too deep for a plaster like that to work and needs closing up.

[Lucky Jim]

The whole point in stitches is when a wound / incision / gash is too deep for a plaster like that to work and needs closing up.

Yeah but sadly in an emergency a plaster strip might be all we've got.
And I should have said I don't envisage just sticking it over the gash, I'd squeeze the edges of the gash together first while applying the plaster (preferably with somebody's help) and it won't be able to spring open again as long as the plaster is on, at least that's the theory..

PS- and we could always wind a bandage around on top of the plaster to help the wound stay closed at a deeper level:-
"Give me another horse: bind up my wounds!"- Richard III

[Plymtom]

Whan we say a gash the point is a plaster wont stick for long, super glue seals it, and stitches hold it shut so it can seal itself by clotting, super glue is often a part of an emergency doctors kit, I used it a few times on cuts on my fingers, it wasn't necassery from a healing point of view, but allowed me to play my guitar as though it were not there

[JamesMR]

You would be much better investing in some butterfly plasters my friend