OT--dermabond/liquid stitches

[Krischaser]

Hi my three year old cut open his chin and the doctor used dermabond or liquid stitches to help close it. Does anyone have experience with this? We leave for vacation in 7 days for the beach. Will it be healed by then? Thanks.

 

[kim929]

Hi,
my ds had this when he was 3 too. He cut right under his eye the Dr. gave me the choice of stitches or the derma bond. It's basically super glue. I don't remember them putting any restrictions on it. but I would think that in 7 days it would be pretty much on it's way to healing. Just becareful, they told me me it would fall off on it's own or wear off that once it is on it's on for good, but my ds picked it off the next morning. My pedi. couldn't believe he was able to do it. so just becareful he doesn't pick it. I wouldn't worry about it.
Good Luck

 

[addicted2dizney]

Hi my three year old cut open his chin and the doctor used dermabond or liquid stitches to help close it. Does anyone have experience with this? We leave for vacation in 7 days for the beach. Will it be healed by then? Thanks.

Hi,
My DS (now 12 1/2) did this twice! both times Dermabond was used. It worked great there isn't really even a scar. I remember they put strips of a tape like bandage, (maybe steri strips?) on there to help keep things in place and help it heal. I don't remember how long it took but it may be a bit longer than 7 days. I'm sure you will have a good head start to healing but he may need to try and keep it dry the first few days of the trip. I hope this helps! I remember how nerve wracking that injury was. I think my son was around 5 and then 6 when it happened. The first time I was away on vacation and they hospital (in the middle of nowhere PA) did not have all the stuff on hand to do stitches! (can you imagine!!!) Lucky for me they didn't because my son was terrified of the idea of stitches and the Dermabond worked so well he had no scar. Good Luck to you, I hope he's feeling OK and it heals in time for your vacation!

 

[RobinFabulous]

My oldest DD hit her chin and they used Dermabond on her. I think she could get it wet in around 3 to 5 days. Hers didn't scar or reopen

 

[famofsix]

my sons did lightly scar on his forehead but he was squirmy and I think it didn't bond right. Putting neosporin on it helps the healing process.

Have fun on the trip...glad your DS is OK

 

[LIBLULA]

I work on a orthopedic floor, many doctors are using dermabond for knee and hip replacements.. Incisions are free from from sutures and staples. Do not put any type of ointments or creams over dermabond site---might cause opening of incision.

 

[famofsix]

I just wanted to clarify to say that we applied the neosporin after the bond was completely "bonded" not when it was fresh to help prevent scaring. My son's bond was on his face and it was recommended by the doctor to use neosporin.

 

[fireworks fan]

My 2 years old DS got Dermabond on a cut over his eyes three days before we left for WDW. It lasted almost 10 days, but we made sure it stayed dry for 5 days. It did scar, even with neosporin afterwards. Have fun on your trip

 

[karenos]

My then 3 year old DS cut his chin open falling off a swing (the doc said the chin was the most common facial lac). He used Dermabond and it healed in about two weeks. Just make sure he doesn't touch it or pick at it! Two years later, you can barely see the scar.

Good luck
-Karen

 

[emh1129]

Just like a pp said- make sure they don't pick at it! I had been keeping such a close eye on dd to make sure she left it alone but I took one trip to the bathroom, thinking she would be okay for one minute because she was totally engrossed in something- and she peeled it right off. Ugh. We had to go back and get real stitches (only two, but still), they refused to dermabond a second time.
So that wasn't fun

 

[Krischaser]

any others---thanks everyone

 

[mafibisha]

oooo boy, I almost hate to say this because I know how we moms worry, but people also need to be aware and alert.

In my area, major metropolitan city, it is NEVER used.

It is a sealant plain and simple, so whatever is inside, is sealed in.

If a tiny infection is in there, it is sealed in and not allowed to work its way out as it would with stiches (think how incisions 'bubble' when anticeptic is placed on it).

When it was first out several years ago, a few kids developed a systemic infection and it was traced back to dermabond.

Apparently some doctors still use it; countless doctors won't.

 

[momof5boys]

ER nurse here. Don't worry 7 days is fine. Even if he has stitches they would have been removed at 5-7 days. Love dermabond, so much less stressful for kids! And as for infections facial wounds rarely get infected with glue or sutures!

 

[problemchild718]

ER nurse here. Don't worry 7 days is fine. Even if he has stitches they would have been removed at 5-7 days. Love dermabond, so much less stressful for kids! And as for infections facial wounds rarely get infected with glue or sutures!

I'm an ER RN at a trauma center/childrens hospital. We don't use Dermabond on the face at all due to dimpling that sometimes occurs with it. We do use it on other body structures. That being said and it being done already-he should be fine by then

 

[stm61]

my dd9 had dermabond when she was a toddler, can't remember the exact age but she must of been around 2, 2 1/2. It was a small cut on her forehead and the er dr swore it wouldn't scar. He lied. She has a light scar that she hides under her bangs. It's not really noticeable in the winter when she's pale, but it stands out with her summer tan. If I had it to do over, I'd have insisted on a pediatric plastic surgeon and stitches.

 

[Iott Family]

We love dermabond because of the factor of it being less traumatic and our DS10 has had it twice and both areas scarred but our DD2 just went in yesterday with a laceration under her eyebrow that got stitched because of the location. The Dr. did say to keep neosporin/bacitracin on it even after stitches are removed to lessen the scarring.
You should be fine after 3-5 days of dermabond to get it fully wet and definitely keep the neosporin, or whatever brand you use, on it to reduce scarring. Boys tend to wear their scars as badges of war, so to speak BUT Id hate if it a child was left needlessly scarred!

 

[Dr. J.]

To prevent further scarring after the dermabond is off, make sure you use sunscreen and vit e or cocoa butter after as recommended to me by a plastic surgeon.

 

[ZanneMarie]

oooo boy, I almost hate to say this because I know how we moms worry, but people also need to be aware and alert.

In my area, major metropolitan city, it is NEVER used.

It is a sealant plain and simple, so whatever is inside, is sealed in.

If a tiny infection is in there, it is sealed in and not allowed to work its way out as it would with stiches (think how incisions 'bubble' when anticeptic is placed on it).

When it was first out several years ago, a few kids developed a systemic infection and it was traced back to dermabond.

Apparently some doctors still use it; countless doctors won't.

I will say that this was our experience. My son was clocked in the eyebrow with a golf club and they put the liquid stitch on it. 5-6 days afterwards I was drying his face after his bath and gently went over the area and it 'popped', for lack of a better word, and tons of pus came squirting out. We went and had it cleaned out and rebandaged and antibiotics but it really did not heal well and he is missing part of his eyebrow to this day (5 years later).
Looking back I think it was infected for several days prior because it looked very white but I did not realize what I was seeing until the pus came out. Just watch it carefully and you should be fine. I also am not really confident that it was cleaned very well before the glue was put on so that may have contributed too.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

my dd9 had dermabond when she was a toddler, can't remember the exact age but she must of been around 2, 2 1/2. It was a small cut on her forehead and the er dr swore it wouldn't scar. He lied. She has a light scar that she hides under her bangs. It's not really noticeable in the winter when she's pale, but it stands out with her summer tan. If I had it to do over, I'd have insisted on a pediatric plastic surgeon and stitches.

My son cut above his eyebrow when he was 3. He received 3 stitches, done by a pediatric plastic surgeon (I worked in the peds ER and asked one of the guys to do it for me because I knew he was good).

He has a scar, light, but in the summer, you can see it pretty clearly. He is 13 now.

 

[mafibisha]

I will say that this was our experience. My son was clocked in the eyebrow with a golf club and they put the liquid stitch on it. 5-6 days afterwards I was drying his face after his bath and gently went over the area and it 'popped', for lack of a better word, and tons of pus came squirting out. We went and had it cleaned out and rebandaged and antibiotics but it really did not heal well and he is missing part of his eyebrow to this day (5 years later).
Looking back I think it was infected for several days prior because it looked very white but I did not realize what I was seeing until the pus came out. Just watch it carefully and you should be fine. I also am not really confident that it was cleaned very well before the glue was put on so that may have contributed too.

Oh, I'm very sorry to hear that happened to your son! But glad he's okay now!

And I'm glad you shared your story. I too have seen and heard of similar experiences, which is why it's rarely used in our area. The worst situation was a doctors child who nearly died from systemic infection. Like anything in life, its good to be aware so we can be alert.