Cuts and lacerations can occur at any time, from any number of accidents and injuries. While some cuts can be easily treated at home with a bandage, others may require more detailed treatment, including sutures and stitches. If you have a cut and are unsure if it will require stitches, visit AFC Urgent Care Louisville & Boulder for treatment seven days a week.
How do stitches help wounds?
Sutures are a minor medical procedure that can be done on a walk-in basis at AFC Urgent Care Louisville & Boulder. The cut is sewn together with a specialized, sterile thread to close the wound and prevent infections from entering or spreading. Two types of sutures are available. Non-Absorbable stitches will require a follow up visit to our center in order to have the sutures removed. Absorbable stitches will dissolve or fall out on their own as your wound heals.
How to Tell If Your Cut Will Require Stitches
There are several factors that can help you determine whether or not you should get medical attention for your cut and may need stitches in order for it to fully heal.
Appearance & Depth
What your cut looks like at first glance can tell you right away if you require stitches. If you can noticeably see tendon, bone or deep tissue, you should get it checked by a medical provider as soon as possible to reduce the chance of infection. If it appears to be over one-quarter of an inch wide, long or deep in any direction, it should be assessed immediately to determine the best course of treatment.
Is it still bleeding?
If you cannot get the cut to stop bleeding with fifteen minutes of sustained pressure or it keeps bleeding through compresses, it should be examined and potentially x-rayed.
Where on your body is the cut?
Depending on the area of your body, certain parts of your skin may be more prone to splitting as a cut heals than others. If you get a cut on a particularly thin area or skin, such as your eye, wrist or ankle, or the cut is located near one of your major, mobile joints such as your hand, knee, elbow or fingers, stitches may be needed to make sure the wound heals properly without splitting open.
Walk-In Treatment for Cuts & Lacerations in Louisville, Boulder & Superior, CO
If you sustain an injury and may require stitches, don’t wait to get it examined, especially if you’re not sure how serious it is. Visit AFC Urgent Care Louisville and Boulder seven days a week for walk-in digital x-rays and stitches. Most major insurance plans are accepted. If you have any questions about injury treatment or stitches, please call 720-961-9700.
