It’s not unusual to cut yourself with aknife in the kitchenor while working on a project around the house. Accidents happen.
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Finger cuts range from minor to severe. Minor injuries, like shallow paper cuts, can quickly be treated at home with basicfirst aid. Deeper, more severe cuts may damage the skin, tendons, ligaments, and even the bone. Such cuts call for a visit to the emergency room, and often requirestitches.
This article will help you determine if yourfinger cutis minor or not. It also provides first aid tips you can follow to treat small cuts on your own, and explains when to go to the emergency room.
Control the Bleeding
An accidental cut can be minor or severe. The first step with either is to try to stop the bleeding.Doing so will give you a clearer sense of how deep the cut is.
When to Seek Emergency Care (Deep Cuts)
If your finger meets any other following criteria, you need to go to an emergency room or urgent care clinic right away:
An amputated finger requires immediate medical attention at a hospital. Call 911 if you think you will be delayed in getting there or don’t have a ride. Never drive yourself with a partially or fully amputated finger.
If your finger has been amputated, here’s what you need to do:
Clean the Wound
Cleaning the wound properly is essential to preventing infection.
Healthcare providers will handle this for deep cuts. For minor finger cuts, follow these steps:
Do not usehydrogen peroxide, iodine, or any cleaning solution that contains iodine. These products may only irritate the injury.
Use an Antibiotic Ointment
Antibiotic ointment, such asNeosporinor Polysporin, is usually not necessary for the majority of minor cuts. It also won’t help a wound heal faster.
However, it can help prevent infection and may be particularly useful for those who anticipate not being able to keep their wound from touching lots of dirt and grime throughout the day.
Never squeeze ointment directly onto the cut. You don’t want to contaminate the container. Instead, put the ointment on a cotton swab. You can also use another clean, disposable surface like a tongue depressor or a small piece of clean gauze.
Apply a Bandage
Adhesive bandages protect the cut from contamination.They are not necessary for many minor cuts and scrapes unless there’s a potential that they can get dirty or irritated.
When applying an adhesive bandage, never touch the pad. Peel off one side of the protective covering and attach the sticky part to the finger. Then, wrap the bandage around the finger and remove the other covering as you go.
Replace the bandage at least once a day or whenever it gets dirty.
How Long Will a Finger Cut Take to Heal?
Most minor wounds fully heal within one week. Larger cuts, including those that require stitches or surgical repair, can take up to a year to fully heal.
After dressing a minor cut or being treated for a deeper one,watch for infection.Signs of infection include:
If you notice any of these or anything else that seems abnormal, see your healthcare provider or go to an urgent care clinic as soon as possible.
Do You Need a Tetanus Shot After a Finger Cut?If the wound is particularly deep and you have not had atetanus shotin the last five years, it’s a good idea to get one. See your healthcare provider as soon as possible to get abooster.
Do You Need a Tetanus Shot After a Finger Cut?
If the wound is particularly deep and you have not had atetanus shotin the last five years, it’s a good idea to get one. See your healthcare provider as soon as possible to get abooster.
Finger Cut Aftercare
Minor finger cuts should make a full recovery without complications. With that being said, even the smallest cuts can get infected, so it’s important to protect your healing wound from day one.
Medical Care for a Deeper Cut
Once you reach the emergency room, a healthcare provider will take a look at the injury and evaluate its severity. If the injury appears complex or deformed, your provider will likely request an X-ray.
If the cut goes through the skin and leaves a large wound,you will probably need stitches.This is particularly true if you can see fat or muscle. In order to decrease the risk of scars and infection, a healthcare provider should close the cut within a few hours.
Especially severe injuries, like those with deformities, exposed bone, or wounds that are too large for stitches, will require surgical repair.
There are two main surgical procedures for deep cuts:
The surgical procedure you get will depend on the severity and complexity of your finger injury.
Summary
Finger cuts are pretty common. Knowing what to do when you have a cut finger can help prevent infection and excessive bleeding. The most important first aid steps include stopping the bleeding, cleaning the wound, applying an antibiotic, and putting a bandage on it.
If you have a deep cut, it’s important to go to the urgent care center or ER to get help from a healthcare provider. If your finger has been amputated, do not attempt to drive to the ER. Call 911 immediately, and apply pressure to the wound to control bleeding.
In most cases, minor cuts will heal within one week. If you need stitches or surgery, you can expect the wound to heal within a year.
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