Any nurses here? I have a bandage question

**chatterweb** · 03-28-2006, 10:15 PM

I stepped on a broken perfume bottle barefoot.

It cut my pinky toe almost all the way off.

So,
I have about 5-7 stitches, from the inner part of the toe to the edge where the side of my toe is.

It is so hard to bandage it! I have wasted about 15 knuckle bandages and gauze in the last 3 days of removing the old bandaid, cleaning with h202 and cotton swabs, and the location is very awkward
and sometimes it causes pain the way the gauze is, so, I must remove it and start all over.
Any advice is appreciated, since I cannot afford to visit Kaiser each day!!!
Thank you!!

**Valerie in WA** · 03-28-2006, 10:42 PM

I'm so sorry! Sounds

!

First of all, stop using H2O2! It's good in the begining, when things are dirty, but research has shown that it impairs healing by 'cleaning' off newly laid cells. Soap and water two or three times a day should be good. If it looks infected, use an antibacterial ointment per package directions.

Secondly, bandaging...hmmm... would it help if you bandaged the next toe with it - wrapped them together? That's a tough area. I assume a regular 1" or 3/4" bandaid won't work? Sorry I don't have many ideas. Does it need to be covered? Or does it need some padding for comfort? Padding is bulky and may be uncomfortable.

Hope you feel better soon!

**sunshine** · 03-28-2006, 10:52 PM

Your best bet is NOT to bandage it per se' . . . wash with soap and water (Valerie is right about peroxide), apply ointment as ordered by who ever did the stitches. . . . and then loosely place gauze over the wound and secure with a surginet (hospital netting) or nylon stocking, or such.

**McD** · 03-28-2006, 11:24 PM

Okay, I'm not a nurse but I was a combat medic for the National Guard and a lot of times, we had to improvise when we were out in the field and started running out of materials (i.e. making tourniquets with sticks and did you know that tampons plug bullet wounds very very well?)

What I would do for your toe is wrap a big pad around the wound. Not a gauze pad, but like a surgical type thingie (can't think of the word). Then take a roll of Kerlix and wrap around it. Kerlix will hold in place very well.

**chatterweb** · 03-29-2006, 01:04 AM

Thanks for all the advice!!!

Kaiser gave me a list of instructions, and it said clean with h202, and do not get it wet.
Kaiser is not the best for real advice.

Anyways, If I am wearing a sock and shoe for work, and I walk kinda alot, should I tape my pinky toe to my 4th toe?
For support?

I kinda think I should, and apply gauze and a knuckle bandaid to keep out sweat?

My feet get sweaty in tennies at work!

Thanks for any advice!!!
I have never had stitches before!

**Valerie in WA** · 03-29-2006, 10:25 AM

I'm not sure that bandages will keep out sweat. It's possible they will trap the moisture nest to the wound. I STRONGLY recommend that you bring clean socks to work and change a mid-day, just thru the rest of this week.

The research on peroxide first started coming out five years ago.