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Laceration Repair services offered in Warrior, AL and Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Every year, nearly 6 million people visit the emergency room for a laceration repair. Though you may require medical attention for your wound, you may not have to spend hours at your local emergency room waiting for treatment. The experienced team at Primary & Urgent Care South, with locations in Warrior, Alabama, and Rosa Beach, Florida, offers laceration repair at the office. For expert care of your wound, contact the nearest office by phone, request an appointment online, or simply walk in today.
What is a laceration?
A laceration is a cut through your skin. If your cut also goes through your fat or muscle, then you have a deep laceration.
When should I seek medical help for a cut?
If your cut is small and shallow, you may be able to care for your wound at home. However, you should contact or visit Primary & Urgent Care South to schedule laceration repair if your cut is:
- Deep or showing muscle, fat, or bone
- Filled with dirt or debris
- Bleeding after 15 minutes of applied pressure
- Jagged with uneven edges
- Located at or near a joint or your hand or foot
- At risk of leaving a severe scar
You should also seek medical care for your laceration if you have diabetes or poor blood circulation, which are conditions that may impair proper wound healing, increasing your risk of infection.
What happens during laceration repair?
Your provider at Primary & Urgent Care South begins your laceration repair by first reviewing your medical history, including when you had your last tetanus shot. Your provider also asks for details about your injury, including how and when it happened.
Then, your provider evaluates your wound, assessing size, shape, and location. After your cut has been thoroughly evaluated and assessed, your provider reviews your laceration repair treatment plan with you.
Before cleaning or closing your cut, your provider administers a local anesthetic to ease the discomfort. Your cut is then cleaned with sterile water, soap, and/or an antiseptic agent and prepared for closure.
Your provider at Primary & Urgent Care South may close your cut or laceration using skin glue, skin closure strips, or stitches, depending on the location and severity of your wound. After repairing your laceration, your provider covers your wound with a clean bandage.
If needed, your provider also administers a tetanus shot to reduce your risk of infection.
What happens after laceration repair?
After repairing your laceration, the team at Primary & Urgent Care South provides specific instructions on how to care for your wound at home. Your provider may also prescribe an antibiotic and/or pain medication.
Depending on the severity of your wound and your medical history, you may need to return to the office so the team can monitor your healing.
To learn more about laceration repair, call Primary & Urgent Care South, request an appointment online, or walk into the nearest office today.