[pct-l] Stitches

[Kathi]

Another option is to use Steri-strips as your "suture" kit. Doesn't hurt 
like sewing up your own flesh... OUCH! and it will be able to drain if 
needed and with a bandage should stay nice and clean. I had a surgery a 
year ago and had an 8.5 inch (long) incision and they only used 
steri-strips to close it up. No stitches! I thought that was kinda weird 
but it worked great and my scaring is actually not too bad all 
considered. If you already have superglue you could use that to put on 
the edges of the steri-strips to keep them from slipping or use Benzoin 
Tincture which is what the surgeons use.

Kathi

On 2/22/11 5:52 PM, Rod Belshee wrote:
> I have carry sutures when traveling in developing parts of the world, either
> to use myself or to hand to medical personnel to ensure it is sterile.
>
> For thru-hiking, I'm comfortable I can patch up most anything with butterfly
> bandages. In the field, sutures are less advised since sterility is tough so
> the wound must be allowed to ooze.  That is also a reason to be careful with
> the super-glue approach -- be sure to leave drainage openings if you use
> super-glue.
>
> Steady Sr
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Amanda L Silvestri
> Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 8:03 AM
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] Stitches
>
> I have always been careful while out hiking/backpacking and so have never
> yet been cut much worse that a scape or scratch, never the less, it seems to
> me that the possibility of tripping or falling (off a slick log or loose
> rock cliff or whatever) or impaling oneself with a branch, is a possibility.
> Even so, I have yet to see in the content list for a First Aid kit, a curved
> needle for stitching up lacerations.  I would not enjoy having to do this,
> but I can imagine a situation where a butterfly bandage might not be enough.
> It is likewise not hard to imagine this happening some days away from a road
> crossing/trail head.  Does anyone carry anything for stitches in their First
> Aid kit or do most people just use regular needle and thread (or dental
> floss) hoping that will do the trick?
>
> Shepherd
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