Informed Consent for Skin Laceration / Wound Repair
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS
Alternative forms of treatment consist of not treating the skin laceration or wound. Risks and potential complications are associated with alternative forms of treatment.
RISKS of Skin Laceration / Wound Repair
Infection- Likelihood of infection is high after accidents, animal or human bites, and in dirty injuries specifically. Should an infection occur, additional treatment including antibiotics may be necessary.
Scarring- Any laceration or wound to the skin will most likely leave a scar. The goal in suturing is to decrease the severity of the scar. Sutures and/or staples used to close the wound may leave visible marks. There is the possibility that scars may limit motion and function.
Damage to deeper structures- Deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels and muscles may be damaged from the accident or during the laceration repair. The potential for this to occur varies according to where on the body the injury is located. Injury to deeper structures may be temporary or permanent. If nerves are damaged repair may not be successful. Facial nerve injury may cause permanent cosmetic deformity and well as functional deformity of the face.
Wound disruption- Until wound healing is complete; it is possible to split open the wound where the skin laceration / wound repair was performed. Wound disruption can produce scarring. If this occurs, additional treatment may be necessary.
Allergic reactions- In rare cases, local allergies to tape, suture material, or topical preparations have been reported. Allergic reactions may require additional treatment.
Delayed healing- Wound disruption or delayed wound healing is possible. Some areas of the skin may not heal normally and may take a long time to heal. It is even possible to have loss of skin or deeper tissue. This may require frequent dressing changes or further procedures to remove the non-healed tissue. Smokers have a greater risk of wound healing complications.
Retained Foreign Debris/Materials- You may require removal of tiny residual fragments of glass, metal, wood, plastic, rocks, dirt and/ or other materials from the area of injury/accident in the future. Due to the nature of accidents, although all visible and palpable glass, metal and debris is attempted to be removed during your initial repair, some fragments of material still always remain. Residual foreign material is common after injuries and accidents. These materials and debris may need to be removed in the future.
I have read and understand the following Informed Consent Material for my specific procedure. The risks, benefits, and alternatives of the procedure was explained to me. I understand the specific risks in the consent material for my procedure. I agree to follow all instructions, to follow up as directed, and to follow up with a medical professional if any problems or questions arise.