Stitches: Can You Get Stitches at Urgent Care or Do You Need to Go to an ER?
Can You Get Stitches at Urgent Care or Do You Need to Go to an ER?
When you sustain a run-of-the-mill cut on your finger, arm, or ankle, you’re probably accustomed to covering it up with an adhesive bandage and letting your body heal this wound on its own. But if you get a larger cut or laceration, you may need additional medical care. If you have a particularly deep cut, you might ask, “Do I need stitches? Where should I go for treatment? Do I go to an ER or urgent care?”. We treat skin lacerations and assess for stitches every day and we can help you determine the next best steps for your injury. (And if you’re in the North Texas area, stop into any of our Legacy ER & urgent care joint locations and we will evaluate your cut and provide stitches and any other needed care.)
Do I Need Stitches?
While it’s best to seek out the professional opinion of medical personnel to determine whether a wound needs stitches, there are a few hallmarks to look for. We advise our patients that a cut may need stitches if:
- The cut or area feels numb
- The cut is very deep, jagged, long, or gaping
- The cut keeps bleeding or won’t close, even after you apply direct pressure
- The cut is located on the face, genitalia, or other sensitive areas
- The cut occurred from a bite or foreign object
- The cut is located over a joint
- The cut presents cosmetic concerns
However, you may not need stitches if the cut is a puncture wound or is very shallow and has smooth edges. It’s always best to seek out medical attention if you are unsure.
Should I Go to an Urgent Care Clinic or to the ER for Stitches?
If your cut is serious enough for stitches, the type of medical treatment you need depends on how serious the cut is and where it’s located.
When to Go to the ER for Stitches
If your cut is extremely deep, is spurting bright red blood, has torn edges, is located on a joint, exposes muscles or veins, is bleeding profusely even after applying pressure, is located on the face or scalp, or contains an embedded object, you will likely need to go to an ER to get stitches.
When to Go to Urgent Care for Stitches
Straight cuts, shallow cuts, cuts with embedded dirt, or cuts that were caused by rusty or dirty objects (but are not serious and do not contain these foreign objects) can be treated by the staff at urgent care.
If you’re in doubt about when to seek emergency care or want to err on the side of caution, it’s best to head to the 24-hour walk-in clinic closest to you to be assessed by a medical professional. Emergency Room and Urgent Care, All Under One Roof.
At Legacy ER and Urgent Care, we take the guesswork out of figuring out where to go to seek care for your wound. With urgent care and emergency room care all under one roof at locations throughout the Dallas/Forth Worth area, we eliminate any anxiety about deciding where to go. At Legacy, we provide convenient care for true emergencies and urgent medical situations alike. Find your closest Legacy location and get the care you need, today!