Laceration of an Arm or Leg: Stitches, Staples, or Tape

Home care

• Follow the healthcare provider’s directions on how to care for the cut.

• Wash your hands with soap and clean, running water before and after caring for your wound. This is to help prevent infection.

• Keep the wound clean and dry. If a bandage was applied and it becomes wet or dirty, replace it. Otherwise, leave it in place for the first 24 hours, then change it once a day or as directed.

• If stitches or staples were used, clean the wound daily:

  • After removing the bandage, wash the area with soap and water. Use a clean, wet cotton swab to loosen and remove any blood or crust that forms.

  • After cleaning, keep the wound clean and dry. Talk with your healthcare provider before putting any antibiotic ointment on the wound. Reapply the bandage.

• Remove the bandage to shower as usual after the first 24 hours, but don't soak the area in water (no swimming or tub baths) until the cut is fully healed.

• If surgical tape closures were used, keep the area clean and dry. If it becomes wet, blot it dry with a towel. Let the surgical tape fall off on its own.

• Follow the healthcare provider's directions for any medicines prescribed.

  • The provider may prescribe an antibiotic cream or ointment to prevent infection. They may also prescribe an antibiotic pill. Don't stop taking this medicine until you have finished it all or the provider tells you to stop.

  • The provider may also prescribe medicine for pain. Follow the directions exactly for how to take these medicines. If your provider did not prescribe pain medicine, you may use over-the-counter pain medicine. If you have chronic liver or kidney disease, or ever had a stomach ulcer or GI bleeding, talk with your healthcare provider before using these medicines.

• Don't do activities that may reopen your wound.

• If the cut is in an area where you might be concerned about how the scar will look, keep the wound out of direct sunlight. After the wound heals, continue to stay out of direct sunlight, or use a sunscreen with a high level of protection. Sunburn or sun exposure can increase scarring.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised. Most skin wounds heal within 10 days. But an infection may sometimes occur even with correct treatment. Check the wound daily for the signs of infection listed below. Stitches and staples should generally be removed within 7 to14 days. If surgical tape closures were used, you may remove them after 10 days if they have not fallen off by then. 

When to get medical advice

Call your healthcare provider right away if any of the following occur:

• Wound bleeding not controlled by direct pressure

• Signs of infection, including increasing pain in the wound, increasing wound redness or swelling, or pus or bad odor coming from the wound

• Chills, fever of 100.4°F (38ºC) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider

• Stitches or staples coming apart or falling out or surgical tape falling off before 7 days

• Wound edges reopening

• Color changes in the wound

• Numbness around the wound 

• Decreased movement around the injured area