Should I use anti-inflammatory drugs when my baby’s wound is stitched?

Bumps and bruises are inevitable in life, especially for children as they grow up. However, if the baby needs to have the wound sutured after a bump, in addition to treating the wound well, anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken or not. However, tetanus injection is required to avoid infection. Let the child pay more attention to rest, pay attention to the hygiene of the wound, and be sure to go to the hospital on time to change the dressing.

Wound sutures can speed up wound healing

For most wounds, only suturing can achieve accurate tissue alignment and provide good conditions for wound healing. If the wound is not sutured and only relies on its own contraction and scabbing, obvious scars will inevitably be left behind. Only a small number of wounds are shallow, have no obvious contamination, and have good tissue apposition, so it is possible to consider not suturing them. But even so, timely and thorough debridement and regular dressing changes are necessary.

Some wounds do not require sutures

Sometimes when your scalp is injured, the wound bleeds a lot, but after the bleeding stops, the wound is only a small one. This type of wound generally heals quickly and rarely becomes infected. No need for stitches, just wait for self-healing. There is also the tissue connecting the upper gums and lips, called the frenulum. When a child falls or hits his face, the frenulum will often be injured and bleed. This usually does not require sutures. Just apply pressure with gauze soaked in cold water. If you are not sure whether your baby's wound needs stitches, you need to go to the hospital for a check-up.

How to determine whether a wound needs sutures

1. Observe the depth of the wound. Is yellow fatty tissue visible at the wound site? Is the skeleton exposed? Is there a large area of ​​flesh exposed under the skin? Is the wound deeper than 6 mm? If any of the above situations apply, you will need stitches.

2. Observe the width of the wound. Can the wound be pinched closed? Usually the function of bandages and gauze is to close the wound. After the wound is closed, a scab will form and it will begin to heal itself after 12 hours. However, if the wound is too wide to be closed with a bandage, you will need stitches to force the skin closed to help it heal.

3. Observe the location of the wound. If the wound is located in a part of the body that moves frequently, it is best to go to the hospital for sutures to prevent the wound from expanding or tearing again due to movement.

Materials used to suture wounds

1. Natural absorbable suture materials: Intestinal suture (made of sheep intestinal submucosal tissue or cattle small intestinal serosal tissue). Intestinal suture is suitable for suturing the gastrointestinal tract and urogenital tract, but cannot be used for pancreatic surgery because the intestinal suture is easily digested and absorbed by pancreatic juice.

2. Artificial absorbable suture materials: Polyglycolic acid (PGA) sutures are suitable for suturing clean wounds and infected wounds. It is not used for tissues that heal slowly and require higher knot tying. The hydrolysis products of PGA are very effective antibacterial substances.

3. Natural non-absorbable suture materials: silk thread, stainless steel wire, nylon suture, tissue adhesive.

Usually, doctors will take appropriate treatment measures based on the condition of the wound to minimize the chance of leaving scars. Especially for wounds in exposed parts such as the head and face, it is best to use cosmetic needles with sharp needle tips and good penetration, as well as sutures with small tissue reaction, low pain for the patient, and low infection rate. For some minor wounds, tissue glue can be used, so there is no need to remove the stitches after the operation. It is waterproof and anti-contamination, which reduces the pain of the child and the burden on the parents.

Mom and Dad should be by your side

Suturing a wound may be a scary thing for a baby. Mom and dad should stay with him, comfort him and give him confidence. Tell your baby not to move and the doctor will take care of his wound. Stitching the wound may be painful, but you just have to persevere. Don’t tell your baby that it doesn’t hurt. The wrong way of saying it will cause him to distrust you. Accept your baby’s emotions and comfort him.