Children’s and Young People’s Surgical Day Unit
This information leaflet provides you with advice and guidance on wound care for your child once they are safe to be discharged.
How should I look after the wound?
Some swelling and bruising around the wound is normal. This can often get worse over the first 2 to 3 days before it starts to look better.
The dressings should remain dry on the outside (a little bit of dried blood or yellowish staining is ok). If the outside of the dressings become wet from fluid leaking through, please contact the dressing clinic in order to arrange for the dressings to be examined and changed if necessary.
You will be given specific instructions about how to look after the wound depending on the dressings used. Some dressings need to be kept clean and dry at all times (usually ones that look bulky or padded).
Some dressings are ok to go in the shower (but not the bath). They look like a plaster, if they get wet, they can be left to air dry, or gently pat dried.
If a bandage has been applied, you will be advised how long this should be left in place for. If you are not sure, please telephone the dressing clinic for advice on 01642 835904.
Please leave sticky dressings on until instructed to remove them.
Steristrips (paper strips)
Often steristrips (paper strips) are placed over the wound. These should stay in place until the wound is dry and healed (usually 7 to 10 days). If these fall off before 3 to 5 days, please contact the dressing clinic on 01642 835904.
If they get wet, gently pat dry. If they have not fallen off after 10 to 14 days they can be removed by dampening them, then removing gently, taking care not to pull on the wound.
What about the stitches or glue?
Your surgeon may have used a variety of different stitches to close the wound. For most children’s wounds, these will be dissolvable.
There are two main types of dissolving stitch:-
- Ones on the inside of the body (you won’t be able to see these, but can sometimes feel a little knot or bump under the skin, particularly at the edges of the wound).
These can take anywhere between 6 weeks to 6 months to dissolve depending on the stitch. Occasionally a little piece of the stitch might poke through the skin, and the nurse or doctor may gently remove this in dressing clinic if it persists for more than a few weeks.
- Dissolving stitches on the skin surface (these look white or pale pink). These usually dissolve and fall off after a week or two, but if they do not, or they become very red or itchy, please contact the dressing clinic on telephone: 01642 835904 for advice as we may remove them.
You can help stitches to drop out on their own after a couple of weeks by gently massaging them when washing the area. This can help to reduce the appearance of “stitch marks”.
Wound glue
Sometimes a special medical glue is used to close the wound. This will drop off itself once the wound has healed. Please discourage your child from picking at the glue or wound.
What if I have concerns?
If you are worried about the wound, please contact the plastics dressing clinic on 01642 835904 or ward 22 on 01642 854522 out of hours. We would rather you call us first than going to see your local GP or out of hours centre.
Please seek advice and guidance for the following
- The wound opening or oozing.
- Heavy bleeding from the wound – unable to stop the bleeding despite applying pressure for 5 mins.
- Infection (increased pain, redness and swelling around the area).
- Discharge or an unpleasant smell from the wound.
Managing pain
- Your child may have had local anaesthetic into the wound for pain relief. This will last for a few hours after surgery. It is important to give medication by mouth, if due, before this wears off.
- Swelling of the wound may be uncomfortable. Elevating the area, if possible, may help reduce this.
Remember that the wound may also feel sore in the first few days after surgery, so make sure your child is taking regular pain relief. Follow doses on the bottle and never give more than the stated dose.
Activities
Your child needs to avoid contact sports (including trampolining or bouncy castles) for a period of six weeks while they heal. You may be given other additional advice according to what procedure your child has had.
Follow up
If a follow-up appointment is made, please ensure you attend this appointment or make contact if you need to rearrange
Who can I contact for advice?
Plastic Dressing Clinic James Cook University Hospital
Telephone: 01642 835904
Children and Young People’s Surgical Day Unit
Telephone: 01642 854927
(Monday to Friday – 7.30am until 19.00pm)
Email: [email protected]
Ward 22
Telephone: 01642 854522 (24 hours)
Patient experience
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you wish to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Department who will advise you on how best to do this.
This service is based at The James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, our community hospitals and community health services.
To ensure we meet your communication needs please inform the Patient Experience Department of any special requirements, for example; braille or large print.
T: 01642 835964
E: [email protected]
The James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW.
Telephone: 01642 850850
