What you may not know about stitches

(These pics are two months post-op)
I think I have mentioned my middle son has had stitches not once, but twice in the last couple months. I hope you never have to go through what I did, but just in case, I think I should share what I learned about stitches.

The first time we went to one of those mini-clinics that can do simple stitches. It did not go well. My son jerked and screamed during the procedure and the stitches were so loose, he pulled them out within two days.



The second time I called my husband and he took our son to the Emergency Room. He saw a physician's assistant who said he could do the stitches. I was on the phone saying, "No, No, No! We are going to a plastic surgeon this time." The cut is across his forehead and I wanted it to look the best it could. So, the ER put a big cotton ball on my son's head with numbing cream on it. My husband was told his head would be numb by the time we got to the plastic surgeon's office.
This is where the problem comes in.
The plastic surgeon took one look at my son and said, "Why does the ER keep putting these huge cotton balls on with numbing cream? Cotton balls soak up the cream and the skin underneath doesn't get numb." A light bulb went off in my head. I realized the first time my son got stitches only the top layer of skin got numb! No wonder he was jerking around so much. The Plastic Surgeon put a tiny steri-strip on my son's head and actually poured the numbing medicine on his wound. When my son got the stitches, he didn't move at all. He couldn't feel it this time. It was such a HUGE RELIEF. So, if your child has to get stitches, make sure no one uses a cotton ball to put the numbing cream on. It was a big lesson learned for me!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Does your child need stitches?

My three-year-old got two good ol' fashioned stitches a couple weeks ago. He tripped on a blanket and fell down the stairs. I knew he needed stitches because the cut was gaping. When I tried to push the skin back together, you could really see the width and depth of the cut. We pulled and screamed while the doc tried to put in the stitches. Then he pulled one out on the way home. The other one was missing the next day ( he says it fell out.) So now he has a scar. I am so sad. I am still hoping it goes away. The doctor said the only reason he used stitches was because of where the cut occurred(near his mouth). If it had been somewhere that doesn't move a lot, he would have used surgical glue. Now I am thinking I should have requested both!

So how do you know if your child needs stitches? Here's some advice from Kid's Health.

Between the playground, sports, and the rough-and-tumble of everyday life, kids end up with bruises, scrapes, and cuts from time to time. While these often require little more than some disinfectant and a bandage, it's important to know when a cut might need medical attention or even a few stitches.

Your child may need stitches if the cut:

• is still bleeding after you apply pressure for 5 minutes
• is gaping or wide
• appears deep
• is on your child's face or neck
• contains glass or other debris
• has an object sticking out of it, such as a twig
• spurts blood

If a cut is spurting blood, it may be because an artery has been nicked. The wound should be treated and stitched immediately so that its edges can come together and heal properly.

A common concern with cuts is whether a tetanus shot is necessary. A child who has not had a tetanus shot within the last 5 years may need one to protect against infection. A child may also need a shot if the wound was caused by rusty metal, is contaminated with dirt or saliva, or is a bite from an animal. The tetanus shot must be given within 48 hours of the time the wound occurred. But the sooner the shot is given, the better, as it will help to lower the risk of infection.

These guidelines can help you determine whether your child needs immediate medical attention, but ultimately, doctors in your local clinic or emergency room are the ones who can best decide whether a cut needs stitches.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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