What is the recommended wound care for a patient with staples on their head?

Wound Care Orders for Head Staples

Keep the stapled scalp wound covered with a clean, dry dressing for a minimum of 48 hours after placement, then the dressing may be removed and the wound left open to air unless drainage occurs. 1

Initial Wound Management (First 48 Hours)

• Apply a standard dry dressing immediately after staple placement and keep it undisturbed for at least 48 hours unless leakage or drainage occurs 1
• Advanced or specialized dressings offer no additional benefit over standard dressings for primarily closed surgical wounds and should not be used 1
• The wound acts as a physical barrier to microorganisms once the skin edges are approximated with staples 1

After 48 Hours

• Remove the dressing after 48 hours if there is no drainage or signs of infection 1
• The wound may remain uncovered once the dressing is removed, as there is no evidence that extended dressing time reduces infection rates 1
• If drainage persists beyond 48 hours, keep the wound covered with clean, dry bandages until drainage resolves 1

Hygiene Instructions

• Instruct the patient to maintain good personal hygiene with regular bathing and hand washing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand gel, particularly after touching the wound 1
• The scalp may be gently cleaned around the staples after 48 hours, avoiding direct trauma to the wound 1
• Avoid sharing personal items (razors, towels, linens) that may contact the wound 1

Monitoring for Complications

• Assess for signs of infection including increased pain, redness, warmth, swelling, purulent drainage, or fever 1
• If signs of infection develop, obtain wound cultures before initiating antibiotic therapy 1
• Staples typically remain in place for 7-10 days for scalp wounds, with excellent cosmetic outcomes comparable to sutures 2, 3

Key Clinical Pearls

• Stapling scalp wounds is faster, less painful, and carries no risk of needle-stick injury compared to suturing 2
• The cosmetic outcome of stapled scalp wounds is equivalent to sutured wounds at long-term follow-up 3
• Standard dressings are as effective as expensive advanced dressings for infection prevention in primarily closed wounds 1
• The 48-hour dressing rule is based on the time needed for the wound to become impermeable to external microorganisms 1