From the Research
This 34-year-old truck driver can return to work with some modifications, and I recommend light duty work until the sutures are removed in four days, as supported by the principles of wound healing and infection prevention 1, 2. Based on his injury to the right middle finger requiring 9 sutures, he should avoid heavy lifting with the right hand and keep the wound clean and dry to prevent infection. After suture removal, if the wound has healed properly with no signs of infection or complications, he can likely return to full duty. The patient appears to be healing well, reporting no pain, numbness, or functional disability, which are positive signs. His job primarily involves handling lightweight equipment that he can manage with one hand. Given that the X-ray showed no fracture and he's demonstrating good function, the prognosis is excellent for a full recovery. Some studies suggest that antimicrobial sutures may help reduce the risk of surgical site infections 2, but the current evidence is not strong enough to support their routine use in all cases. However, the use of antimicrobial sutures may be considered in high-risk cases, such as those with a high risk of infection or in cases where the patient has a compromised immune system. In this case, since the patient is healing well and has no signs of infection, the use of antimicrobial sutures is not necessary. I recommend documenting this assessment for his HR department to facilitate his return to work process, taking into account the principles of wound healing and infection prevention, as well as the patient's individual needs and circumstances 3, 4. It is also important to note that the type of suture material used can affect the risk of infection and wound healing, with monofilament sutures having lower resistance when passed through tissues, and multifilament sutures possessing higher tensile strength and flexibility but greater tissue friction and pose risks of suture sinus and infection 5, 4. However, the choice of suture material is not the primary concern in this case, as the patient is already healing well with the current sutures. The key is to ensure that the wound is kept clean and dry, and that the patient avoids heavy lifting and other activities that may compromise the wound healing process.