Wound Care
Date issued: May 2021
Review date: May 2023
Ref: D-353/JS/Learning Disability Team/Wound Care
PDF: Wound care final May 2021.pdf [pdf] 679KB
Treatment options for your wound:
Depending on how wide and deep your wound is it may need to be closed.
Wounds can be closed with:
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Special wound glue
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Steristrips also known as paper stitches
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Staples also known as skin clips
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Stitches
You need to keep your wound clean and dry for at least 5 days.
If your wound does get wet pat it dry gently with some clean tissue. Do not rough dry it with a towel.
Caring for your wound closure:
Glued wound: If your wound was glued shut the glue will drop off by itself. This usually takes around 5 days. You must not pick at it.
Steristrips: Your steristrips should stay on for 5-7 days unless they are on your knee or elbow when they have to stay on for 10-14 days. You can take the steristrips off yourself by soaking them in warm water.
Stitched wound: You need to keep the wound clean and dry until the stitches are removed. You will be told how long they have to stay in for. The practise nurse at your doctor’s surgery will do this for you.
Staples: Your staples will need to stay in for 10 days. The practice nurse at your doctor’s surgery will take these out for you.
Possible problems with your wound:
If your wound:
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Stays painful (despite taking paracetamol for pain)
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Goes red, feels hot or swollen
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Has pus leaking from it
then you need to see you doctor as you may need antibiotics.
Practice nurses in GP surgeries are trained to treat most wounds. They can remove staples, stitches and give advice.
You would only need to come back to ED (also known as A&E) if your wound has made you very poorly with a high temperature.
