I sliced my bird finger today while installing gutter guards...Its straight across on the inside and about three quarters of an inch down from the tip..It appears to need stitches and my first thought was the emergency room but due to the cost I decided otherwise..I doused the wound with peroxide and used antibiotic cream then bandaged it up..My main concern is that the tip of my finger is numb but it may be better tomorrow so then I'll take another look at it and make a decision...I've heard of doctors using super glue to close small wounds..

THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE!!!

I did nearly the same exact thing: middle finger on my left hand slit open about half way from the last joint to the tip of the finger. It was quite deep and resulted in complete numbness in the end of the finger to the point of not feeling a needle pushed into it. I cleaned it and closed it with a butterfly stitch and super glue once it stopped bleeding. It healed and today (year later) there is no scar and all the feeling returned after about 3 weeks.

Yes, I was quite freaked out and a bit apprehensive but not only did I not want to deal with the cost of the hospital, I hate all the drama and BS you have to deal with there. I also have a severe aversion to having a shit ton of medical records existing everywhere about me.

I would say, close it up and see how it heals, if its not doing significantly better by tomorrow or the day after go get it checked out.

RDP

I think that was the original purpose of super glue: to seal wounds without stitches.

Never used it myself but I've used some type of adhesive gauze once to close an inch deep gash on my forearm when I slammed it across a metal beam. Took about four weeks to heal.

okay, what is your emergency?
i got my fingers glued together when i was trying to close a wound

I think that was the original purpose of super glue: to seal wounds without stitches.

Never used it myself but I've used some type of adhesive gauze once to close an inch deep gash on my forearm when I slammed it across a metal beam. Took about four weeks to heal.

True. Cyanoacrylate (the adhesive used in most modern superglues) was used in the Vietnam war to close wounds.

However, you need to make sure you get as little glue in the wound as possible. Your body metabolizes cyanoacrylates into formaldehyde which is poisonous. Formaldehyde is metabolized, as well, into formic acid which is extremely toxic to retinal cells. Ever heard of people going blind because they got bad moonshine? Methanol is also broken down into formic acid...

True. Cyanoacrylate (the adhesive used in most modern superglues) was used in the Vietnam war to close wounds.

However, you need to make sure you get as little glue in the wound as possible. Your body metabolizes cyanoacrylates into formaldehyde which is poisonous. Formaldehyde is metabolized, as well, into formic acid which is extremely toxic to retinal cells. Ever heard of people going blind because they got bad moonshine? Methanol is also broken down into formic acid...

Heh, this. I got really bored a year or so ago and looked a bunch of stuff about this up.

ive actually had superglue in my mouth at one point. i had a lump stuck to my tongue for a week

The price of healthcare in this country is so fucked up that it's best to study medical books and/or become a doctor so that you don't have to go bankrupt or be in long term dept if you lose a finger. Either that or dish out a shitload of health insurance the rest of your life.:(

I think superglue works pretty well.
I believe varieties of it are used in place of stitches in the medical world.
but I'd suggest you also use tape, like butterfly stitches, to help keep the the gap closed, by supporting the wound closure from above.
Don't discount Needle and thread, if necessary.
RDPs advice seems pretty good.

UPDATE: Things didn't work out to well..My employer suggested going to the VA hospital and have the wound sewn up because it would faster which did sound like a good idea except that it was Columbus day and only a few doctors were on duty..I got to see the nurse and was told the bad news that the wound could not be sewn up because more than 12 hours had passed...As I started to leave she began to relate horror stories about how there could be a tiny metal shard embedded and what could happen.. So off to the x=ray room I went....


After that I waited in another room with five other people...Waited and waited..Went outside and smoked a cigarette...Went back inside and waited some more...So now its to the truck for a few drinks and smokes...When I went back in the same people were still in the room so I had to say "to hell with it"and went home...Unfortunately,I could not push the skin together and use the super glue so now I'm stuck with a gaping wound across my finger which may take weeks to heal...All i can think of to do now is keep it clean and maybe remove the bandage every few days so it can get some sun and fresh air..

Thanks for the advice..

UPDATE: Things didn't work out to well..My employer suggested going to the VA hospital and have the wound sewn up because it would faster which did sound like a good idea except that it was Columbus day and only a few doctors were on duty..I got to see the nurse and was told the bad news that the wound could not be sewn up because more than 12 hours had passed...As I started to leave she began to relate horror stories about how there could be a tiny metal shard embedded and what could happen.. So off to the x=ray room I went....


After that I waited in another room with five other people...Waited and waited..Went outside and smoked a cigarette...Went back inside and waited some more...So now its to the truck for a few drinks and smokes...When I went back in the same people were still in the room so I had to say "to hell with it"and went home...Unfortunately,I could not push the skin together and use the super glue so now I'm stuck with a gaping wound across my finger which may take weeks to heal...All i can think of to do now is keep it clean and maybe remove the bandage every few days so it can get some sun and fresh air..

Thanks for the advice..

This is exactly what happened to me. After 12 hrs the skin starts to die, thus you can't sew it together without having to cut a portion of the skin, making the wound a bigger.

Unless you want a scar that looks like an asshole, I suggest you douse the wound with h2o2 and then pinch the surrounding skin to close it. Tape it with adhesive gauze. It'll close in 4 weeks and will completely heal in 2 months. Try not to hit the wound with anything since it tends to open up and bleed a lot.

The price of healthcare in this country is so fucked up that it's best to study medical books and/or become a doctor so that you don't have to go bankrupt or be in long term dept if you lose a finger. Either that or dish out a shitload of health insurance the rest of your life.:(

or get a job that has health insurance as a benefit, lol

Unless you want a scar that looks like an asshole, I suggest you douse the wound with h2o2 and then pinch the surrounding skin to close it. Tape it with adhesive gauze. It'll close in 4 weeks and will completely heal in 2 months. Try not to hit the wound with anything since it tends to open up and bleed a lot.

pretty much this, once it's pretty closed let it get at least a hour of fresh air a day.

it's not recommended, but it has saved me a few times :)

It'll sting like a bitch. Another good alternative is masking tape.

Just keep both sides of the wound close. If it's reasonably open, get a magnifying glass and look for any tiny bits of metal. Theres heaps of little bits in my hands, and im still doing alright...1 Tiny drop of super glue will work, then masking tape it to keep it sealed. Every few hours just remove the masking tape and let it dry out. If it's weeping consider using a gauze bandage to soak it up. Last thing you want is a finger thats rotting off your hand because it absorbed too much water...

I have used superglue many a time to close up a wound. It does burn a bit but does a great job of holding everything closed and then the glue peels off after the wound has healed enough to hold toghether on its own.

or get a job that has health insurance as a benefit, lol



I was working at home when it happened.......The funny part is my boss doesn't get paid unless i work..poor fellow...lol..I guess I'll wrap it real good and try to work on thursday.

i myself also hate the hospital and won't go unless someone forces me or i actual think i'm dying. I've never tried super glue but i've had good luck using a small piece of duct tape to keep a wound close. just put it on there so it holds everything together tight. keeps water out too.

most weeks at college ill have a cut burn or blister that i just superglue shut. stings like a cunt though

Ahhh i'm glad my health is free :) PS, Joiners do it all the time.

there is a liquid bandage called second skin that is basicaly super glue with some anti-septic put in. it works pretty fantastic on my cuts. what i would suggest is getting some and then painting it on (it comes with a little brush) the inside of your cut, close it and hold while painting some more onto the top. this stays for a while and then flakes off after a few days. pick it up at your local drug store

Wow America is a shit hole I love living in Canada free medicare its the shit. But too your problem yes super glue can be used to close wounds what they did in WW2 was if someone had like a major cut or w,e they would bandage it with duct tape after applied what they called medical glue which was super glue pretty much so ya I don't see why not

I needed stiches after a cut on my thumb once. Since I was stupid (I have insurance, I just didnt go to the ER) I kept cleaning it and re-bandaging it until i got home 2 days later. I showed my father, who knew it would already be too late, so he got me lots of bandages and chemicals to clean it and then he prescribed cephalexin so it wouldn't get infected.

even today I have a huge scar and that specific scar is a little numb. Just use aloe and neosporin

Wow America is a shit hole I love living in Canada free medicare its the shit.

It's not free, you are probably taxed out of your ass for it.

i've used it on more minor cuts than that. from my experience it leaves no scarring and works a treat

couldnt say for something that serious though

UPDATE: Things didn't work out to well...
After that I waited in another room with five other people...Waited and waited......When I went back in the same people were still in the room so I had to say "to hell with it"and went home...Unfortunately,I could not push the skin together and use the super glue so now I'm stuck with a gaping wound across my finger which may take weeks to heal.....

Wrong choice to not wait a few more hours to get proper care

i use superglue to close up most all of my small or uncomfortable cuts. most of these are caused from practicing/ preforming tricks with my butterfly knife or when working on projects. it works great. the superglue usually comes off after a few days if it's on my hands, and wen it does it can sometimes re-open the cut, but it's much better by this point, or i just superglue it again.

It's not free, you are probably taxed out of your ass for it.
Yeah! Us americans only get taxed out of our asses for $500 billion dollar wars!

Yeah! Us americans only get taxed out of our asses for trillion dollar wars!

fixed.

THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE!!!

I did nearly the same exact thing: middle finger on my left hand slit open about half way from the last joint to the tip of the finger. It was quite deep and resulted in complete numbness in the end of the finger to the point of not feeling a needle pushed into it. I cleaned it and closed it with a butterfly stitch and super glue once it stopped bleeding. It healed and today (year later) there is no scar and all the feeling returned after about 3 weeks.

Yes, I was quite freaked out and a bit apprehensive but not only did I not want to deal with the cost of the hospital, I hate all the drama and BS you have to deal with there. I also have a severe aversion to having a shit ton of medical records existing everywhere about me.

I would say, close it up and see how it heals, if its not doing significantly better by tomorrow or the day after go get it checked out.

RDP

this looks pretty good , gl :D

Superglue actually works quite well. Read the packet - "Warning - Bonds Skin Instantly" - as long as the cut isnt too deep, give it a go. I've done it quite often. Even on a few really ultra deepies :P

I've done it before. Second Skin blows and isn't nearly as durable as super glue, but its good for blisters that tear off completely. When using the super glue though, press the skin together and put the glue just on top and spread it a bit. Dont get it inside the cut since you want skin to bond to skin, not skin to glue to skin.

fixed.

$500 billion in 15 hours....sheesh you guys suck :)

I've done it before. Second Skin blows and isn't nearly as durable as super glue, but its good for blisters that tear off completely. When using the super glue though, press the skin together and put the glue just on top and spread it a bit. Dont get it inside the cut since you want skin to bond to skin, not skin to glue to skin.

Getting in the wound is bad.