Laceration Repair & Treatment for Other Injuries Available in Tampa, FL
Laceration repair
In our clinic, we fix lacerations. You may require a laceration repair if you have a rip or cut in your skin, tissue, or muscle. Cleaning, prepping, and closing an open wound are all parts of this procedure. At our clinic, this can be accomplished using one of three techniques: glue, staples, or sutures.
Situations that call for a laceration repair
You might need to have the laceration repaired if you have exposed muscle, fat, tendon, or bone. Additionally, if bleeding still occurs after 10-15 minutes of direct pressure. Lacerations can range in size, depth, and width; some lacerations can be so severe that they cause damage to tendons or arteries. In this situation, you would need to go to the emergency room because sealing your wound requires a more thorough assessment. Additionally, you should go to an emergency room rather than an urgent care center if you have a facial laceration.
Things to expect when you visit our clinic
Our skilled medical staff will thoroughly review the procedure with you if you have a minor cut or laceration. The wound will first be cleansed and irrigated. After that, sterile liquid prep will be used to sanitize the wound. The doctor will either apply adhesive to the incision or numb it with lidocaine before suturing or using staples to close it. It could initially seem uncomfortable, but soon you won’t feel anything, allowing the doctor to close the wound without discomfort. The doctor will then use sutures, which are most frequently used, or staples to close the incision.
Once the wound is stitched up, the treatment will be finished by applying an antibiotic cream and gauze to the dressing site. You will have the chance to get a Tetanus shot now if you don’t currently have one. You might also be given a course of antibiotics to take in order to avoid getting sick.
Things to expect after sutures
You will be handed an aftercare manual once your sutures or staples have been inserted or the wound has been closed. You will find detailed aftercare guidelines in this guide to make sure your wound heals properly. Following the method, you must:
- During the first 24 hours, keep the wound area dry.
- Apply a fresh Band-Aid or dressing and an antibiotic ointment every day for 48 hours. You can keep the sutures exposed after two days. Keep the sutures covered if you are in an environment where they are likely to get soiled. After 48 hours, you can gently clean with warm water and mild soap to avoid crusting over the suture knots.
- Showering is permitted with the doctor’s approval, but bathing or swimming should be avoided until the skin has fully recovered. After your shower, be careful to change the dressing.
- Never keep a moist bandage or dressing on stitches since this allows bacteria to enter the region and lead to infection.
Although this procedure is typically relatively straightforward and without complications, if you start to notice any infection warning symptoms, please contact our office right away. For example, increased redness, soreness, or warmth at the suture site, unusual swelling, the presence of pus, and/or fever are all possible warning signals.
Time sutures before sutures can be removed
This depends on the wound’s location and how well it is healing. The majority of sutures can be removed safely in 7–14 days. Scarring could happen, and it is advised to wait three months before exposing fresh scars to the sunlight. This is because scars are extremely vulnerable to the sun’s harmful UV radiation. Scars may get thicker or discolored as a result of excessive sun exposure. Scars that are not covered by clothing should be treated with sunscreen.
If you’ve suffered a minor laceration that needs attention from a medical professional, there’s a better option than wasting time and money at your local hospital emergency room. TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track has multiple locations throughout the greater Tampa, Florida, area where board-certified medical professionals provide prompt laceration repair in a welcoming environment. Our experienced wound treatment team will evaluate the injury and utilize sutures or sterile strips to close the wound so you can get back to your daily life.
About TGH Urgent Care
In addition to open wound care, we offer treatment to patients ages 3 months and older for a variety of non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. We commonly treat flu-like symptoms, ear infections, minor fractures, urinary tract infections, and more, and we offer in-house lab tests and imaging procedures to speed the diagnostic process. If a prescription is required, we can usually fill it on the spot through our pharmacy.
A Wound Care Clinic That’s Open Daily
At TGH Urgent Care, we understand that it’s hard to find time for medical care, which is why we’re open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can walk in to be seen on a first-come, first-served basis, or use our online Fast Pass portal to reserve your spot in line ahead of time and reduce your wait time. And unlike hospital emergency rooms, many of our visits are completed in an hour or less.
If you need timely laceration repair, visit the Tampa-area TGH Urgent Care wound care center that’s closest to you today.
