Foreign Body to the Face and Facial Laceration Repair

Part 1 in a Series Wound care and suture repair are two of the most frequently encountered issues in the emergency department. It is the midlevel provider’s job to be familiar with proper wound care and suturing techniques as well as quick and safe treatment of soft tissue skin injuries. You can use various suturing techniques and styles, but it is important to find a few that really work for you, often tailored to the area of injury. This month, we are focusing on lacerations and puncture wounds to the soft tissue of the face. Future posts will touch on other suturing skills, with some great tips from our plastic surgery friends. More in-depth posts will include videos of nerve blocks to the face, which are incredibly useful for wound repair. We will also touch on nasal, buccal, and ear lacerations as well. The face has a plentiful blood supply. Primary closure is important for facial lacerations to avoid unnecessary scaring. Sometimes, swelling or extensive facial tissue damage makes primary closure more difficult. Careful wound cleaning of facial lacerations is critical. The soft tissue of the face is not at high risk for infection, but removing foreign bodies and cleansing with antibacterial agents is paramount. All wounds should be cleaned well and closed within a four- to six-hour window. Wounds older than six hours or presenting the day after the injury can be repaired, but a plastics consult may be warranted. (Semers N. Practical Plastic Surgery for Nonsurgeons. Ph...
Source: The Procedural Pause - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs