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Wound After Sutures For Trauma On Anterior Left Lower Extremity, Some Swelling Seen. Finished Cipro, Prednisone. Advice ?
Hello there, my name is AAA and I am a paramedic with some healthcare experience, however, something has come up that is throwing me for a loop. My grandmother recently experienced some trauma on the anterior of her left lower extremity. She had the wound sutured, which I didn't really agree with, but anyways, the wound still isn't healed and she is experiencing some swelling distal to the injury and pain proximal from it. She just finished a round of cipro and has been weaned off of a prednisone regiment for about 1 week but the wound still won't heal and the pain is getting worse. I'm not sure what to recommend to her. Some advice would be appreciated! Thank you!
posted on
Sat, 17 Aug 2013
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 22 Aug 2013
Answered on
Fri, 23 Aug 2013
Last reviewed on
Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.
This is just to let you know that steroid (prednisone) usage delays wound healing and also increases the chances of wound getting infected.
From the description of symptoms, I suspect an infection in the wound which is not healing. A culture swab taken from the wound site establishes the pathogen in the wound and accordingly antibiotics are to be used for appropriate period.
Local wound care in the form of regular dressings and covering the wound with sterile gauge material is recommended.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
This is just to let you know that steroid (prednisone) usage delays wound healing and also increases the chances of wound getting infected.
From the description of symptoms, I suspect an infection in the wound which is not healing. A culture swab taken from the wound site establishes the pathogen in the wound and accordingly antibiotics are to be used for appropriate period.
Local wound care in the form of regular dressings and covering the wound with sterile gauge material is recommended.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
I find this answer helpful
Hi
Thank you for your question.
Considering the pain is getting worse along with increasing swelling, possibility of an infection is very high. Prednisone definitely needs to be stopped as steroids can worsen the infection. An Xray of the injured part is essential to rule out underlying bony injury. It is recommended to see an orthopaedic surgeon as early as possible if the symptoms are getting worse despite a course of antibiotics. The wound may need surgical drainage if there is underlying collection.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Thank you for your question.
Considering the pain is getting worse along with increasing swelling, possibility of an infection is very high. Prednisone definitely needs to be stopped as steroids can worsen the infection. An Xray of the injured part is essential to rule out underlying bony injury. It is recommended to see an orthopaedic surgeon as early as possible if the symptoms are getting worse despite a course of antibiotics. The wound may need surgical drainage if there is underlying collection.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
I find this answer helpful
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