Skin wounds that may need stitches, staples, or skin adhesives

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Skin wounds that may need stitches, staples, or skin adhesives

It is important to determine whether your wound needs to be treated by a health professional. Your chance of infection increases the longer the wound remains untreated. Most wounds that require closure should be stitched, stapled, or closed with skin adhesives within 6 to 8 hours after the injury. Some wounds that require closure can be closed as long as 24 hours after the injury.

The location of the wound and the type of wound also affect how soon it should be closed.

• Wounds that have a high risk of infection, such as dirty cuts or crushing injuries, are usually closed within 6 hours after the injury to promote healing. Occasionally a wound that has a high risk of infection will not be stitched until after 24 hours, or may not be stitched at all, so that adequate cleaning and antibiotic treatment can be used to prevent infection.
• A wound made with a clean object, such as a clean kitchen knife, may be stitched from 12 to 24 hours after the injury depending on the location of the cut.
• A clean facial wound in a healthy person is at low risk for infection and can be stitched up to 24 hours after the injury. Stitching may be done for cosmetic appearance to reduce scarring.

For more information, see are stitches, staples, or skin adhesives necessary?

Credits

Last updated:	June 30, 2006
Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer