Pediatric Wound Care and Management in the Emergency Department

Publication Date: October 2017 (Volume 14, Number 10)

No CME for this activity

Author

Jennifer E. Sanders, MD

Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY

Peer Reviewers

Maria M. LoTempio, MD, FACS

Assistant Professor, Plastic Surgery, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, New York, NY

Laura Sass, MD

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School; Medical Director, Antibiotic Stewardship and Infection Prevention and Control, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Norfolk, VA

Abstract

Traumatic wounds and lacerations are common pediatric presenting complaints to emergency departments. Although there is a large body of literature on wound care, many emergency clinicians base management of wounds on theories and techniques that have been passed down, so controversial, conflicting, and unfounded recommendations are prevalent. This issue reviews evidence-based recommendations for wound care and management, including wound cleansing and irrigation, anxiolysis/sedation techniques, closure methods, and post-repair wound care.

Excerpt From This Issue

A 2-year-old boy presents with a chin laceration that occurred when he ran into a wall 23 hours ago. The family cleaned the wound with water and applied a bandage. The boy is very upset and screams and runs away when you try to remove the bandage. The resident you are working with asks if the wound should be closed primarily or if it should be allowed to heal via secondary intention. He also asks you what the best way is to handle toddlers who require local wound care.