$1.99 mod to save lots of money.
This is kinda long, but if you consider doing this you should read the whole thing.
Ok, this is something that can save you time and money. I can say that it has saved me several thousand dollars! This is no BS. Instead of going to the emergency room for stitches use crazy glue. I cut myself all the time. My son use to play hockey. He cut his face just about every weekend (fights, sticks, ice whatever). Stitches leave marks when healed and the wounds heal slow. Crazy glue is fast and easy and leaves no marks when healed. there are no stitches to remove. Emergency room visits are expensive and takes lots of time.
You have to make damn sure it is clean. Then make damn sure it is clean again. Then clean it again. I hate to repeat my self, but make sure its clean! You don't want to seal up the wound with germs trapped in there or else things could get ugly. You do need to be current on tetnus shot. I believe it is every 4-8 yrs. Call your doctor to find out. Anyhow, I use batadine (provadine/iodine) to flush the wound several times. Make sure no tendons, ligaments or arteries have been severed. Tendons/Ligaments are white. Arteries, it will be pumping blood out like crazy. You could still have cut a ligament and not know it. Make sure you can move the joint, finger, foot or what ever without any problems. If you suspect that you have cut one of these, get you but to the doctor. Most of all, use common sense.
Make sure to have a pair of tweezers or something to help you close the wound after you have applied the glue (you can very easly glue your finger to your wound)
Very carefully open the crazy glue (the old stiff works better than the crzy glue gel) apply a good amount directly inside the wound and carefully close together with the tweezers. Hold for about two/three minutes until the glue sets. After the glue stes I apply a small amount on the outside of the wound for extra measure. leave the wound unbandaged. Apply a splint if the wound is near a joint or where it can be moved or bumped. It is very important not to move that area because crazy glue is not flexable. it is brittle and will crack. You may need to re-apply glue every two or three days as your skin renews and sheds itself, or if the glue were to crack. This is common. The wound is sealed and will heal much much faster than if it were sutured. It is very important to make sure the wound is clean because you are sealing it up.
Now, just let it heal over the next few days. No stitches to remove and no ER visit and no bills.
I've done this for the past 20 years. When my son played minor hockey he was constantly cut. The teams had no team doctors. I cleaned the wound, used crazy glue, and he could be back out on the ice in less than 5-10 minutes.
Later, when he played in the OHL the team had doctors that stitched him. He never had any scars until he started getting stitches.
Recently my mother sliced a finger with a kitchen knife. She called the doctors office and they told her to go to the ER. She called the ER. The ER told her the wait would be at least 2 hours. She asked for a cost estimate. They said it would be between $300-$500.
She called me. She didn't wan't to move it because she got the bleeding stopped and she was afraid moving it would hurt. But we had to open it up and make sure no ligaments were cut and so we could get it cleaned. If the wound is already closed off it has to be opened back up for these reasons. There were no signs of ligament damage (No visual signs in the wound and she could move it full range with out too much trouble). We applied crazy glue and held the wound together with 2 tooth picks until the glue set (the glue really doesn't burn if at all but, whatever you are holding the wound closed with it is important to use something with out much surface area. It offers less to get accidently glued to the wound ). I made a splint out of a straw and taped it to her finger. She had to re apply the glue two days later because it looked like it was starting to let loose. This is common because the skin is sheding it self and it looks like the glue is letting loose. There is less trauma to the area (no injections or needles) and therefor the pain associated with stitches that is experienced later in the day/evening (thumping) is far less. After 4 days the cut was healed and she removed the splint. She said that she has never had a cut heal so fast. At first she was unsure, now she is very, very glad she didn't go to the doctor.
My family doctor says that the chemical in crazy glue is the same as what's in suture glue only it does not have the flexability of the real stuff (Suture glue is available in the Er for suturing instead of stitches. It is mainly used on children or on peoples faces). Liquid Bandage is not the same and will not work for suturing>
The main thing is you should use common sense. If you are not 100% certain, call your doctor or go to the ER.
