Minor Laceration Repair

Whether a laceration tears the skin or goes deep below the surface, you should seek minor laceration repair for any wound that’s dirty or needs more than a bandage to protect the cut.  Deon Middlebrook, MD, and the board-certified physicians at Detroit Sherwood Urgent Care in Detroit, Michigan, specialize in caring for lacerations, whether it’s performing X-rays to evaluate the injury or cleaning and closing the wound. Detroit Sherwood Urgent Care welcomes walk-in patients, but if you prefer, you can schedule a same-day appointment by calling or booking online.

What injuries need minor laceration repair?

A laceration is any wound that tears through your skin. This type of wound is often caused by a sharp or heavy object or occurs when your skin drags over a rough object or you suffer a sports injury or other type of trauma.

Lacerations are usually jagged and irregular around the edges and contaminated with dirt, debris, and bacteria. Your laceration may simply tear the skin or go deep below the surface, cutting other tissues, including tendons, nerves, and blood vessels.

When do I need minor laceration repair?

Even if you don’t need stitches, most lacerations need prompt medical care to be sure the wound is clean and to provide treatment to prevent infections. 

Signs you need urgent care include:

• Bleeding that won’t stop 
• Wide, gaping wound
• Deep wound
• Jagged or uneven edges
• Dirt or debris in the wound
• Wound caused by an unclean object
• Sensations of tingling or numbness
• Numbness or loss of feeling
• Exposed muscle, tendons, bone

You should also seek treatment if the wound doesn’t heal in a few weeks or becomes infected (you’ll see redness, swelling and pus).

What services might I receive during minor laceration repair?

The first priority of your Detroit Sherwood Urgent Care provider is to stop any bleeding. Then they clean the wound, removing foreign objects and debris. You need a tetanus vaccine if the wound was deep or contaminated with dirt and your shots aren’t up to date.

Before closing your wound, your provider may take digital X-rays to evaluate the severity of the damage and determine if you have torn ligaments, tendons, or muscles.

If your X-rays were clear, your provider applies a local anesthetic if needed and closes the wound using medical glue, adhesive strips, or stitches. They may leave some lacerations open and cover them with a dressing if the wound is small or you have a high risk of developing an infection.

The Detroit Sherwood Urgent Care team takes care of minor laceration repairs. They refer you to a specialist if they find severe tissue damage (like torn tendons or ligaments) that needs specialized treatment.

Detroit Sherwood Urgent Care welcomes walk-ins, or you can call or connect online to request a same-day appointment.