Cyanoacrylate glues work good, though it is difficult to apply without a helper. We have used them for years now in the ER and my family practice clinic, but they are not too popular due to the time to apply and difficulty with applying to a dry surface. Our "medical" glue is the same as what you can find in Home Depot, just 10X the cost.
Technique is as follows:
Laceration needs to be cleaned, then sides held together so there is no gap. Surface needs to be dry, which is a big problem since many of these bleed and folks don't want to hang around the clinic for an hour or two until it stops. While a helper holds the sides together, the glue is 'painted' in layers longitudinally over the wound, allowing each to dry before the next is applied. That's it. Eventually, the glue comes off since your skin slowly 'sheds' the outer epidermal layer microscopically.
Sutures still are common, as are steristrips (little tape strips).
I usually slap on a bandaid and move on, or use steristrips for a deeper laceration along with a splint if a finger (uhh, like the one I had where a utility knife skipped the straight edge while cutting drywall and went across the thumb, to the bone baby). I've never had the balls to suture myself Rambo style. And Chad, don't forget to embellish your story a bit around the guys at Image Air (a pitbull attack, dueling cut, martial arts incident etc sounds better than a metal burr
)
Carl
to Rivetbangers Randy!! Stick around and bring a friend!!
to Rivetbangers Randy!! Stick around and bring a friend!!