Stitches

Description

Stitches are a surgical thread used to help wounds heal. Most minor wounds will heal on their own. For more severe wounds, stitches will be needed to hold the wound closed and allow it to heal while remaining free of infection. Signs your child’s wound may require stitches are if the wound is deep or jagged or if it won’t stop bleeding after 15 minutes of applying pressure.

Treatment

After your child’s doctor has assessed the wound and determined that stitches are required, they will clean the wound and may numb the area. Next they will make sure no remaining debris is present in the wound and remove any dead tissue to assist in the healing process. After that, the wound will be pulled together and strings of surgical thread will be stitched through each side of the wound and tied off until the whole wound is closed.