Download Pre-Tibial Laceration Advice

Pre-tibial laceration
Advice
We call the wound on your shin a pre-tibial laceration. Unlike a simple cut it may take
several weeks to heal completely as the skin is very thin and the blood supply to the
wound may not be very good. Because the skin is so thin we can’t use normal
stitches. Instead we use paper stitches called steristrips as this is the best way to
close the skin without further harming the blood supply to it. You will usually have
your dressing changed by a District or Practice Nurse in about 5 days and s/he will
monitor your progress.
Your cut will heal better with a good supply of blood to it, which is why we put the
bandage all the way from your toes to your knee. This ensures a good, even
circulation to your leg.
Things you should do
Things you shouldn’t do
Try and rest at least 2-3 times a day for at least
Remove the bandage or
half an hour.
dressing. The wound is
usually best left for
Try and continue with your normal activities
several days before
When you’re sitting down:
redressing to give healing
o keep your foot raised (elevated) – it should
a chance to take place
be higher than your hip
before it is disturbed.
o keep your leg warm – cover it with a rug;
Get the dressing wet
o Exercise your foot by moving it up and down
for at least a minute every hour. You should also
Smoking will affect the
bend your knee and wriggle your toes to exercise
circulation to your leg so it
your calf muscles for at least a minute. This
will take longer to heal.
reduces the risk of blood clotting in your leg
Stand still for long periods
Keep your leg elevated at night by raising the
- such as when you are
end of your mattress/bed
cooking, washing dishes
or ironing - as this will
Take painkillers regularly if you have pain – take
make the circulation in
some about 1hour before you have your dressing
your leg slow. For
changed;
example, don’t iron for
Eat a good diet –see next page for more
more than 10 minutes at a
information.
time.
If your leg bleeds heavily and soaks the dressing or if you see redness spreading up
your legs, you should get advice from your GP or District Nurse or the
A&E/MIU where you were seen as soon as possible
Because you are have a bandage you need
to look out for
o your toes becoming swollen or pale/blue or
very cold or your leg becoming more painful
o you have tingling or you can’t move your
toes
What to do if you have these
symptoms
Elevate your leg for 30mins.
If this does not improve things
then you should return to A&E
straight away.
If you are at all concerned about your injury please contact the relevant Accident and
Emergency Department/Minor Injury Unit (MIU):
Royal Gwent Hospital: 01633 234070
Nevill Hall Hospital: 01873 732040
Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr (YYF) MIU 01443 802336 or 802337
Ysbyty Anuerin Bevan (YAB) MIU: 01495 363818
PIL/PTL /Dec 2013/JanJackson/NJ/ review 2015
Pre-tibial laceration
Advice
Advice about your diet.
You need to eat a diet which helps your wound heal quickly.
The eatwell plate below highlights and shows the proportions we should eat to
have a well balanced and healthy diet. Try to eat:
Plenty of fruit and vegetables: These can be fresh, frozen or dried but eat 5
portions a day at least. A portion is about a handful or one apple, banana, medium
sized orange. These contain essential vitamins and minerals.
Plenty of potatoes, bread, chapattis, rice, pasta, noodles and other starchy
foods: Choose wholegrain varieties whenever you can, or eat potatoes with their
skins on for more fibre and to help prevent constipation
Some milk and dairy foods: Go for lower-fat milk and dairy foods. These are
healthier options to help you get enough protein and calcium
Some meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein: These
are important sources of protein, vitamins and minerals, and form part of a healthy
balanced diet.
Cut down on fat and sugar by eating fewer sweets, cakes and biscuits, and
drinking fewer sugary soft drinks and try to avoid the breakfast cereals which have
sugary toppings.
Consider a daily multivitamin until the wound has healed if you are not able to eat a
well-balanced diet.
The eatwell plate
Imagine this is your plate for
your main meal.
Try to have food in the
proportions shown
References
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/eatwell-plate.aspx
If you are at all concerned about your injury please contact the relevant Accident and
Emergency Department/Minor Injury Unit (MIU):
Royal Gwent Hospital: 01633 234070
Nevill Hall Hospital: 01873 732040
Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr (YYF) MIU 01443 802336 or 802337
Ysbyty Anuerin Bevan (YAB) MIU: 01495 363818
PIL/PTL /Dec 2013/JanJackson/NJ/ review 2015