injuries poisoning
How To Repair a Laceration With Stapling
Step by Step Description of Laceration Repair With Stapling
(See How To Cleanse, Irrigate, Debride, and Dress Wounds for step-by-step descriptions of wound preparation, anesthesia, and dressing.) Cleanse, anesthetize, irrigate, and debride the wound as necessary. Place a sterile fenestrated drape over the wound. Place additional drapes nearby as needed to provide a large enough sterile work area. Begin at one end of the laceration. Evert the edges of the wound using forceps, preferably done by a second operator. Sometimes, the skin can be everted simply by pinching it between the your thumb and forefinger. Once the edges are in eversion, gently place the staples across the wound. To ensure the best closure, place the center of the staple device perpendicular to and over the center of the wound. Once the stapler handle is squeezed, the staple is automatically placed into the wound and bent to the proper configuration. When placed properly, the crossbar of the staple is elevated a few millimeters above the surface of the skin. Work from one end of the laceration to the other, placing each staple about 0.5 to 1 cm from its predecessor, as needed to achieve proper apposition of the edges along the entire length of the wound. 