Pediatric Nail Bed Laceration Basics – Part 5

​When and where should you use prolene? What about nylon suture threads? We will end with the latest on antibiotic use in hand injuries.Pediatric nail bed laceration and finger laceration. Tissue adhesives can be used in place of absorbable sutures for minor injuries to the nail bed.Nylon vs. ProleneHow do we decide on which to use and where to use it? Prolene is a synthetic, monofilament, non-absorbable polypropylene thread. This material can be difficult to handle, and many practitioners avoid using it. Its fishing thread-like structure makes it stiff, and its knots tend to be loose, especially for larger threads.Nylon is the go-to non-absorbable material we use for a plethora of superficial wounds because it is extremely easy to use. It is a silkier material that can come in various forms and thickness. Prolene may be a better choice for wound repair if you want to lessen the patient's pain and make your colleague's job easier, such as for eyebrow lacerations. This way, when the provider removes the sutures, the thread won't blend in like the nylon ones (making it hard to find). Don't use prolene anywhere else on the face because cosmetic healing can be compromised if the knots slip or move.Where else can we use prolene? Have you ever tried to suture the scalp with prolene? We suggest giving it a whirl. Hand tying the knots (with surgeon knots) is easy and makes for a strong knot if it is too difficult to tighten them with your tools. Staples can be used in the scalp wit...
Source: The Procedural Pause - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs