From the Research
Post-discharge care for a 13-year-old with a sutured knee laceration should focus on wound care, pain management, and monitoring for complications, with an emphasis on keeping the wound clean and dry for the first 24-48 hours, then gently cleaning it daily with mild soap and water, as recommended by recent studies 1, 2. The goals of post-discharge care are to achieve optimal cosmetic results without increasing the risk of infection, as outlined in the study by 1. Key aspects of care include:
- Keeping the wound clean and dry for the first 24-48 hours, then gently cleaning it daily with mild soap and water, patting it dry and applying a thin layer of antibiotic ointment like bacitracin or Neosporin before covering with a clean bandage, as suggested by 3.
- Changing the bandage daily or when soiled to prevent infection and promote a moist wound environment, which is more important than previously thought, according to 2.
- Using pain management options such as acetaminophen (15 mg/kg every 4-6 hours, not exceeding 3,000 mg daily) or ibuprofen (10 mg/kg every 6-8 hours with food, not exceeding 40 mg/kg daily), as these are effective for pain relief without increasing the risk of infection, as noted in the example answers.
- Avoiding strenuous activities, sports, and swimming until the sutures are removed, typically in 7-10 days, to prevent wound disruption and promote healing, as recommended by 1.
- Elevating the knee when sitting or lying down to reduce swelling, and applying ice packs wrapped in a towel for 15-20 minutes several times daily for the first 48 hours to reduce inflammation, as suggested by the example answers.
- Watching for signs of infection including increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, foul odor, fever, or worsening pain, and seeking medical attention if these occur, as emphasized by 2, 4. It is also important to note that prophylactic antibiotics are not typically recommended for simple lacerations, as they do not decrease the incidence of infection, according to 5 and 4. Overall, the focus should be on promoting proper healing, reducing inflammation, preventing infection, and allowing the tissues to repair while minimizing scarring, as outlined in the studies by 1, 2, 3.