Nokea
Justin F. is seen in the emergency department with an 8-cm jagged laceration on the dorsal surface of his right forearm. He says he was working with his brother-in-law yesterday morning building a deck on the back of his home. A pile of wooden planks fell on top of him, and he sustained a variety of cuts and superficial injuries. He cleaned the wound with soap and water but didnt want to go to the emergency room because he didnt want to risk being in the waiting room for hours. He wrapped up his arm and went back to work, and then took a normal shower and went to bed last night. This morning the cut on his arm was still flapping open, and he realized he needed sutures. The appropriate management of this patient includes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Local anesthesia, cleansing, and suture repair.
1. Local anesthesia is needed to minimize pain during the procedure.
2. Cleansing is crucial to remove contaminants and reduce the risk of infection.
3. Suture repair is necessary for a jagged laceration of this size to promote proper wound healing and minimize scarring.
Summary of other choices:
A: Antibiotic therapy is not routinely needed for clean lacerations, and covering alone may not provide adequate wound closure.
B: While wound exploration for foreign bodies is important, it is not the immediate priority for this patient with an open, flapping laceration.
D: While cleansing, covering, and tetanus prophylaxis are important, antibiotic therapy is not routinely needed for clean lacerations.