Derm

Skin Tear

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Skin Tear, Thin Skin Flap

  • Epidemiology
  1. Coomon among elderly
  • Management
  • General
  1. Cleanse wound well and reapproximate flap
  2. Bandage
    1. Cover site with non-stick pad or Vaseline Gauze
    2. Wrap with gauze roll (avoid skin tape)
    3. Change dressing every 3-5 days
  3. Other measures
    1. Control edema
    2. Avoid Transparent Film Dressing (risk of pulling up flap and skin at time of dressing removal)
  • Management
  • Steri-Strip closure technique
  1. Glue steri-strips parallel to wound edges
    1. Suture through the steri strips into skin
    2. Allows for greater strength at wound edge and prevents Suture from tearing through
    3. Pacifico (2009) J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 62(12): e637-8 [PubMed]
  2. Glue steri-strips perpendicular to wound edge, across the Laceration (standard use)
    1. Suture through the steri-strips and traverse the wound as would be done normally
    2. Davis (2011) J Emerg Med 40(3): 322-3 [PubMed]
  3. Precautions
    1. Patient must keep the area clean and dry, and not apply antibiotic ointment to prevent the steri-strips from sloughing
  • References
  1. Gallentine (2017) Wound Care Update, Park Nicollet Conference, St Louis Park, MN (attended 9/15/2017)