Stitches or super glue?

I'm absolutely not a doctor, so I'm discussing this in the hypothetical "if I cut myself in such a manner, this is what I would do" -- absolutely this is just banter, not medical advice.

When I get a deep cut that maybe needs stitches, maybe doesn't, what I do is:
- I check for range of motion. If I can move it normally, that's basically proof there is no major tendon or nerve damage.
- I check for temperature & pressure sensitivity. If I can feel those normally, further evidence of no major nerve damage.
- I check for foreign objects & debris. If it's a clean cut from a sharp blade there won't be much, but I wash it out well regardless.

If those criteria are met I feel comfortable using super-glue and/or butterfly bandages or both to close up the wound. My understanding is that there's nothing magical about stitches, per se. I believe all they do is hold the wound closed so that the body can start the repair process.

 

Been there done that too.
When you work in the out in the field. You can't stop and run to the doctor for every little booboo. You make do and get the job done.

 

My dad loves slivers. He doesn't use tweezers but instead a razor blade or knife to catch it and pry it out or just poke around till he gets his desired outcome

 

I'll see your knife and raise you a table saw.

Spoiler

And yeah, I got stitches. lol

 

Dude

 

That stuff doesn't work as well as SG.
I figure they can use SG out on the battle field for our soldiers.... it's good enough for me. Plus I hate doctors and ER's and stitches hurt like a son of a bitch

 

Nah, that’s fucked

 

I’m glueing it… I don’t have medical insurance

 

Not gonna lie. It hurt. Amazingly I still have both fingers and they function just fine. Not many guys that go toe to toe with a table saw have that outcome. lol

 

Speaking of slivers, I got brass one in my finger, it festered for almost 2 years before it broke open and drained out the fluid. This the hole it left and the sack I pulled out of my left pointing finger.

 

The safe answer is seek medical attention.
However, a lot of it has to do with your ability to clean the wound and keep it clean.
You should also consider the consequences of things going bad.
Can you live with out a finger and can you financially afford going/not going to seek medical treatment?

This time of year, I’m constantly working in dirt with landscaping.
I’d probably go to “urgent care clinic” and pay them to stitch it up.
I’d avoid the emergency room. That’s beyond my budget.

I’m not a doctor, take my advice for nothing.

 

Only the fiberglass insulation that got in there

 

Yea but that's a couple notches above a booboo

 

I am guessing that's your wife helping squeeze it together. Maybe put a second coat on it, after that drys. Put a bandaid on it. Don't get it wet for at least 72 hours. Go sit and keep that hand above your head. It will help with the throbbing.

 

Stitches would be optimal, given it’s hard to assess what all you cut into, but given you don’t have insurance I understand. That being said I’ve sliced my palm open on an antenna post and thought there was no way in hell it would heal without stitches but I glued that shit up and bandaged it. Not like you can immobilize a palm but it healed fine with nearly no visible scarring.

I agree with what someone said before: Since you decided to glue it I’d try and immobilize your finger with a splint, easy as popsicle sticks or tongue depressors or whatever else and some medical tape/gauze for a couple days so it doesn’t rip open.

 

In some more rural areas and if you have a friend of a friend who’s a vet there’s a chance you could get it numbed and sewed up for a 12 pack or so. Just make sure the stitches are done before the 12 pack is finished.

 

Yeah I

I tint for a living and I need to get the windows soapy wet lol

 

Meh, i just about cut my right pointing finger off fishing for the brush in a pvc primer can. Only had a few more things to glue and lost the brush in the can. I stuck 2 fingers in the can and realized I was stuck. So, I started pulling them out the brush. I twisted my hand counter clockwise and put a 3 inch cut down my finger. I got the brush though. I then looked at my wife and asked her to go ask for a few paper towels. Got the bleeding to stop, wrapped in the paper towel and finished the job.