2 days ago I was doing the dishes and I dropped a knife. Instead of letting it fall like I should have, I stupidly tried to catch it, resulting in me driving the blade into my thigh. The cut isabout 1/8" deep and 6" long. It’s deep enough that the skin was actually split open and I could see the layer of flesh beneath. My husband thought I should get stitches, but it stopped bleeding after about 20 mins, so I decided to forego stitches.
I washed the cut off with soap and water, then got some Polysporin and rubbed as much of it inside the wound as I could. I then pushed the edges of the cut together to close it, and got some Liquid Band-Aid and put MANY coats of that overtop, making a hard seal bonding the skin together. I then covered it with a big gel Band-Aid.
I’ve been keeping an eye on it. The pain has diminished since Monday, and I don’t see any signs of infection. It’s still sore to walk but not much otherwise. I’ve never had a cut this major, so I’m wondering:
-How often should I change the bandage?
-Approx. how long might it take to heal?
-I got a tetanus shot about 2 years ago. Do I need another?
-Is there anything else I can/should do?
Thanks for any advice.
Of course the only way to be sure is to see a doctor.
I had a razor blade accident about 2 weeks ago that was about an 1/8 inch deep. It’s fully healed now. YMMV.
I’m stuck at work and it’s busy, so the only way I can get off to go to the doctor if I see signs of infection setting in. Right now I could just use some tips so I can take care of it as best as possible.
Yikes, razor blades…those buggers really don’t hurt at all till after the cut, eh? Ow.
I am not a medical doctor or otherwise medically associated personnel, however, that being said, I have three kids, all of whom have had stitches and a variety of injuries.
It is my understanding that stitches can only be done (stitched?) within a certain time frame, that once a cut begins to heal, it shouldn’t be stitched. I also believe that a tetnus shot is good for 10 years (or at least that’s what I was told last time I had one). However, I was also given a tetnus shot last time I got injured.
My unmedical advice (otherwise known as “If it were me”) would be to keep it clean and keep it dry. Watch for signs of infection (redness, fever, swelling, etc.) And, next time, DON’T CATCH THE KNIFE. :smack:
I probably shouldn’t do this but,IF IT WERE ME,
You have seemingly done as much or more than would have been done in Emerg.
Keep a clean, dry dressing on it for three or four days or until it scabs over. Then let the air get at it for at least a few hours each day(encourages healing)
How long to heal will depend on you as much as anything else. If you are a quick healer you can probably do away with the dressing in about a week. If its on your thigh you may want to wear something that wont’t irritate it for a week or so.
If it happened in your own home and is only 1/8 in. deep, tetanus is not likely necessary. As long as it wasn’t a rusty nail.
Next time let the damned thing drop on the floor!!!
Um, no, not really. I had to get a tetanus booster after putting my hand through the glass in my friend’s front door. Depth is usually the key, but not always. And you can get tetanus from lots of things, not just rusty nails and stuff.
It sounds like you did what I would do- clean it, medicate it, and dress it. Watch for redness and swelling, and double-check when your last tet booster was given.
I learned from my dad that there is nothing a butterfly bandage and some first aid creme won’t fix! 
I knew I shouldn’t have done this.
The OP was “Should I be Worried About This Cut??”
Short answer : No
She was washing dishes. The chances of infection were slim to none.
She already took all the precautions any reasonable person would take.
She had a tetanus shot 21/2 yrs ago. Didn’t need that.
The rusty nail comment was an exaggeration to make a point.
She wouldn’t have been looked after better in any ER, IMHO.
Butterflies are invaluable. No home should be without them, especially if you have kids.
Actually, even though my tetanus shot was up to date, I recently had to have a booster when a cat bite wound (flea bath) on my hand got infected badly enough that I needed antibiotics for it. (I got the booster about a day and a half after I got the bite.) It’s probably better to err on the side of caution and ask your doctor what they think, they might decide that a booster is needed, or maybe they will decide against a booster.
I checked my immunization records - my last tetanus shot was just over 2 years ago. The knife was clean, too; I had just washed it (the dish detergent was antibacterial too), so tetanus probably won’t be a worry. I used one of those new Advanced Healing Band-Aids that are soft and plasticky, and form a gel over the wound. It says it’s supposed to mimic a scab and help reduce scarring (I don’t really care if it scars, it’s infection that worries me). But thanks for the butterfly bandage suggestion too, I hadn’t thought of those.