Your Care Instructions
A cut on your child's hand can be on the fingers, the thumb, or the front or back of the hand. Sometimes a cut can injure the tendons, blood vessels, or nerves of your child's hand.
The doctor used stitches to close the cut. Using stitches also helps the cut heal and reduces scarring. The doctor may have given your child a splint to help prevent moving the hand, fingers, or thumb.
If the cut went deep and through the skin, the doctor may have put in two layers of stitches. The deeper layer brings the deep part of the cut together. These stitches will dissolve and don't need to be removed. The stitches in the upper layer are the ones you see on the cut.
Your child will probably have a bandage.
Your child will need to have the stitches removed, usually in 7 to 14 days. The doctor may suggest that your child see a hand specialist if the cut is very deep or if your child has trouble moving the fingers or has less feeling in the hand.
The doctor has checked your child carefully, but problems can develop later. If you notice any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away.
Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your child's test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
Enter A160 in the search box to learn more about "Cuts on the Hand Closed With Stitches in Children: Care Instructions".