Book 10, Question 117
Why Do Stitches Help Some Cuts?
Stitches help some cuts because they hold the edges of the skin together! That helps deeper wounds heal faster and neater, and they work like a temporary zipper. A doctor decides when stitches are needed, so tell a grown-up about any deep cut.
More fun facts
- Stitches, also called sutures, are germ free surgical threads used to repair cuts.
- Most cuts that need treatment should be stitched, stapled or closed with skin glue within 6 to 8 hours of the injury.
- The longer a cut stays open, the higher the risk of infection.
- A quick check: if gently pushing the edges of a cut together makes it look better, it may need stitches.
- For a deep wound, a doctor may sew the edges together layer by layer, leaving some stitches under the skin.
- Absorbable stitches break down on their own and do not need to be taken out.
- Stitches on the face can often come out in three to five days, but stitches over a joint may stay in for up to 14 days because that skin gets stretched so much.
- Some dirty cuts are not closed right away, because closing them could trap an infection inside.
Questions kids ask
Do all cuts need stitches?
No. Many small cuts heal well with cleaning and a bandage. Stitches are for cuts whose edges gape apart.