Help please - when do you know they need stitches???

***Ang*** · December 14th, 2010, 09:49 PM

DD1 fell out of my bed around 45 mins ago (her and DS are sleeping in my bed tonight and I suspect they were mucking about

). So anyway she has hit her head on the very sharp corner of my bedside table. She came running out of the room with blood gushing out from behind her ear.

After cleaning it up it now looks like she has a very deep gash behind the top of her ear on her scalp. It is around 1 cm long but at least 3-5 mm deep. You kind-of cant tell how deep it is but lets put it this way it is the deepest cut I have ever seen. The bleeding has slowed down but it is still coming out a bit.

So I dont know what to do as here is my dilemma - DH works away so it is just me. Mum cant get to my house to watch the kids as my younger sister has already gone out for the night and taken her car. In-laws, dont really want to trouble them unless absolute necessary.

So what would you do? Does it sound serious enough to warrant a late night run now somewhere or do I wait till the morning?

**YoYo** · December 14th, 2010, 09:57 PM

If it's worrying you too much then I'd say it warrantings 'troubling' the in-laws.

If it's really deep and split far apart (if that makes sense) then it might need help going back together...so stitches might do the trick!

Sorry I'm no doctor, that's just what I'd do

**Trillian** · December 14th, 2010, 10:01 PM

I'm no expert, but a wound that deep probably wont heal properly unless it is held together. I know it will be a hassle for you to take them out now and get it seen to, but it sounds like it does need some glue at least. Could you take the younger two to your Mums while you take DD1 to the hospital? Or perhaps call the nurse helpline and see what they suggest. If you have steri-strips or something else that will keep the wound edges together you may not need the glue or stitches.

**UsPlus2** · December 14th, 2010, 10:38 PM

i agree with the other ladies, maybe call the 13 health number, they would be able to give you a better indication of things to look for.

dont feel bad about troubling the in-laws, if DD does need to go to the hospital, the in-laws place would be the least up setting for the other kids to be at.

hope she heals quickly

***Ang*** · December 14th, 2010, 10:50 PM

Thanks for your replies ladies. I did ring the health no after noticing that the wound was still "oozing" blood. It is so difficult to put pressure on it due to its placement and all her hair in the way. They suggested taking her within the next 4 hrs, so I am going to ring my sister and get her to stop here on her way home. Glue was the suggested remedy too.

**Trillian** · December 15th, 2010, 08:15 AM

So how did you go last night Ang?

***Ang*** · December 15th, 2010, 10:03 AM

I ended up taking her to PMH- our childrens hospital where lucky for us at that time of night there was no waiting time. In the end, yes they were concerned about the laceration/hole as it was quite deep but they were more concerned about a possible skull fracture. She hit herself in a really awkward spot and was extremely sore and tender around the hole so we were sent off for x-rays.

They have referred the x-rays to a senior radiologist this morning and she is currently on antibiotics in case of infection down to the brain They chose not to glue it as apparently the glue is quite hard to get out in the event that it is a skull fracture, instead they have just sealed it with sterile strips.

She was very chirpy last night and they are 90% sure it isnt a fracture but just want to be on the safe side.

Thanks for all your advice.