First10 EM - Justin Morgenstern - December 26, 2022
DiscussionFor such a common problem in emergency medicine, there is a striking paucity of evidence to guide our care of lacerations. Nothing I found allowed for definitive conclusions, so clinical judgment and shared decision making are, like always, necessary.
Personally, I tell patients:
- A dressing isn’t required, but you probably want one for the first 24 hours, as some bleeding may still occur. After that point, I would suggest applying a dressing if you are in an environment where the wound might become contaminated, or if you prefer one for cosmetic sake, but I want you to remove the dressing every day to check for signs of infection.
- It is fine to get the wound wet, and in fact I like the idea of keeping the area clean with soap and water. However, I would avoid obviously contaminated water sources, like lakes and public pools until the wound is completely healed.
- Topical antibiotics probably aren’t necessary. They might prevent small pimple-like infections, but there is a risk of an allergic reaction. You can use an over-the-counter preparation if you like.
- I don’t think there is any evidence that vitamin E or expensive scar creams help. Applying a very light layer of vaseline during the first week, to keep the wound moist as it heals, might make sense.
Obviously, all of these recommendations can be adjusted based on clinical judgment, such as if the patient has immunosuppression.