Medical Wound Closure Staple Kit.

[PA PATRIOT]

For those needing such a item for their first aid kits.

http://www.surgical-staples-depot.com/images/disposable-skin-stapler.jpg

http://www.surgical-staples-depot.com/index.html

[lunchbox]

Good lookin out. You find some of the best deals/useful prepper items, that my cache needs. Keep em coming.

PS have noticed you also have interest in alternative comms(not derailin) Received manual and TM-271A HAM radio on pay it foward preppers credit, totally stoked.

[GTifosi]

Junk.
Rambo couldn't get it in the handle of his knife. :p

Seriously though, thanks for dredging that out and sharing.
Great for folks who don't like needles.

[lunchbox]

Junk.
Rambo couldn't get it in the handle of his knife. :p

Seriously though, thanks for dredging that out and sharing.
Great for folkneedless who don't like .Theres alway super glue, just remember to slightly roll skin, so not puttin adhesive in wound. And if wound has been open to air/elements for more than 5-6hours its better not to close/seal but to treat openly with debriding, gauge compaction. Somthin along the lines of not sealing in infection and making problem worse. IM NOT A DR., As all medical advice triple check~!!

[cinco]

Another option...

$20 from my vet: 3M Precise PGX-35W. Disposable stapler with 35 each 6.70mm x 3.90mm staples. I also purchased various sutures.

Best source is a rural vet who does small & large (horse/cattle) as they typically buy these in a significant volume vs. city small animal vet.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/IPD-NA/3M-Infection-Prevention/products/catalog/?N=4294946332+5543862&Nr=AND(hrcy_id%3ASFMHKRTNTPgs_MXP1FGQKSR_N2RL3FHWVK_GPD0K8BC31gv)&rt=d

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=66666UF6EVsSyXTtlXTELxz6EVU6EVs6EVs6EVs6E666666--&boundedSize=310


Good idea to also get the tool to remove the staples.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/IPD-NA/3M-Infection-Prevention/products/catalog/~/3M-Precise-Disposable-Skin-Staple-Remover-Scissor-Style-SR-3?N=4294946384+5543862&Nr=AND%28hrcy_id%3AGSS3DVYGHRgs_77W2KNM09M_N2RL3FHWVK_GPD0K8BC31gv%29&rt=d

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=66666UF6EVsSyXTtlXM2oXz6EVU6EVs6EVs6EVs6E666666--&boundedSize=310

[tb-av]

How safe/easy is that sort of stuff to use for the average person?

[cinco]

How safe/easy is that sort of stuff to use for the average person?

Disclaimer - I'm not a doctor, EMT or vet.

I've had several dogs receive staples and the process is very simple. See below for good write-up of installing staples. Removal is more simple using the scissor type tool (the vet lets me do this). Staples, as mentioned above, allow some drainage in case of infection. In addition and in conjunction with staples, the vet might also use surgical glue (he mentioned I could also use superglue) to seal the wound if threat of infection was low. However, he typically advised against this in a non-sterile environment.

Here's a great write-up from here: http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/How-to-apply-practical-suturing-stapling-wound-dra/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/73937

Steps in staple closure

Perform the preparation of skin and hair (by widely prepping) if this has not been done prior;

Irrigate the tissues just prior to closure;

Use an Adson, Brown-Adson or other similar forceps to pick up the edges of the wound and gain approximation;

While holding the apposition, place a staple in the skin to appose both sides of the wound (there will be a slight mounding effect brought about by the staples. This is preferred to having any gap between the staples;

Complete the skin closure by placing one staple approximately every centimeter (Photo 1, p. 6). In some incisions where there is some tension or thinness there may be a need to place two staples every centimeter.



I use to travel to some pretty remote areas duck hunting so I would pack this stuff in case the dogs or I were injured.

My logic for staples in a SHTF situation is that the stapler allows you to quickly attend to a wound - while allowing drainage since chance of infection will be high. Then, when and if the situation warrants (safety and hygiene wise) sutures could then be applied. As far as getting a wounded dog to sit still while you suture him - well, probably isn't going to happen.

Just my uneducated and un-medically trained 2 cents.

[PA PATRIOT]

My take on Staples for wound closure is that they are fast to use to close a wound one to two inches deep on your arms, legs or torso were major arteries or organs are not compromised and when paired with a adhesive surgical dressing which can add addition closure tension to the skin can get you back up and moving in short order.

Since we are going to use these were medical care is far away or not available at all its better then packing and praying you don't continue to make the wound larger or bleed with movement.

A topical numbing spray or gel can help but I'm sure the pain of the wound its self would negate the minor pain of staple installation.

For $9.99 its cheap insurance that sits in your bag and I would rather have the option then not.

[Moose-Knuckle]

Thanks Phila for the link, I've been wanting to get a few sets of these off Amazon but now they charge me my state sales tax so I've been looking for another place to pick up the odds and ends.

[docsherm]

I will tell you that using them is very easy. Read some instructions and it is done.

Where it gets hard is knowing when to use it. That takes some training.

[Hmac]

Everting the skin edges with Adson forceps (toothed) is an important step. If you just apply the stapler, especially the Creation-style stapler above, it will tend to invert the skin edges thereby impairing healing and making for an ugly scar.

The 3M-style stapler above can be half-cocked and you can use the half-protruding staple ends to evert the skin edges if you don't have a pair of Adsons.

[docsherm]

That is a very good point.

I was also thinking that most times that I have used them i have had to put in a drain. That is where it get difficult.

[cinco]

That is a very good point.

I was also thinking that most times that I have used them i have had to put in a drain. That is where it get difficult.

Doc, in a worse case scenerio, what could be a field-expediant drain? Method to sterilize the f.e. drain? Any further insight as to this procedure would be appreciated.

[Hmac]

Doc, in a worse case scenerio, what could be a field-expediant drain? Method to sterilize the f.e. drain? Any further insight as to this procedure would be appreciated.

Cut a rubber band and soak it in betadine. Just lay it in the dead space. Close the skin over it. This assumes that the patient isn't allergic to latex.

However, if you're going to have enough dead space that you need a drain, you would probably be better off leaving it open and pack it with dry gauze, wrap it with some roll gauze, Vet-Wrap, or Ace bandage. It could then be closed later, after about 4 days.

[docsherm]

I use Penrose drains. If you need to make a drain the only simi-sterile way i can think of doing it is to use a lubricated condom. Cut the tip off and roll it out. Staple it is and it will work as a drain.

[Shabazz]

Excellent thread. Thank you.

[RC51_Texas]

Another option...

$20 from my vet: 3M Precise PGX-35W. Disposable stapler with 35 each 6.70mm x 3.90mm staples. I also purchased various sutures.

Best source is a rural vet who does small & large (horse/cattle) as they typically buy these in a significant volume vs. city small animal vet.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/IPD-NA/3M-Infection-Prevention/products/catalog/?N=4294946332+5543862&Nr=AND(hrcy_id%3ASFMHKRTNTPgs_MXP1FGQKSR_N2RL3FHWVK_GPD0K8BC31gv)&rt=d

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=66666UF6EVsSyXTtlXTELxz6EVU6EVs6EVs6EVs6E666666--&boundedSize=310


Good idea to also get the tool to remove the staples.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/IPD-NA/3M-Infection-Prevention/products/catalog/~/3M-Precise-Disposable-Skin-Staple-Remover-Scissor-Style-SR-3?N=4294946384+5543862&Nr=AND%28hrcy_id%3AGSS3DVYGHRgs_77W2KNM09M_N2RL3FHWVK_GPD0K8BC31gv%29&rt=d

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=66666UF6EVsSyXTtlXM2oXz6EVU6EVs6EVs6EVs6E666666--&boundedSize=310

This! Did the same thing, and you're spot-on with the staple remover - most important piece.

[redhands]

Holy crap
At least that's easier than sewing bare handed with a Keith needle
Do you plan on using a hammer or alcohol or just the way John Wayne would have done it?

[nineteenkilo]

I've been meaning to pick up a few more of these. I guess I no longer have an excuse for the delay. Thanks for the link!

[Bluto]

If you buy a surgical stapler make sure to buy a couple extras to train with. They are not as easy to operate as they seem in the YouTube videos. They really make it look like anyone can do it, which gives you false confidence and can lead to serious complications if done incorrectly.

Every video I have seen online shows a nice, clean straight cut. In reality, you first need to calm down the injured, clean, assess, disinfect and properly treat.

Get some pig skin from a butcher, cut it with a jagged edge and try it out. Especially the last staple, Which is the most difficult.

Also, google insorb. They make an absorbing stapler. Much cleaner healing and no staples to remove. Don't kid yourself... Removing the staples hurt more then getting them. When you are in a situation that requires a stapler, you are likely sedated or on an adrenaline rush. When you get them removed, however, you are not. Google surgical staple removal. Not fun.

I am not a doctor or anything, but I like to be prepared. My wound Care equipment and procedure consists of a tourniquet and celox to stop the bleeding, betadine or iodine for antiseptic, an insorb stapler (or sutures for areas like elbows and knees), and an Israeli bandage to hold it all together. I also keep bandages with clotting agents and anti-bacterial stuff impregnated into them.

None of this helps without training. My father was an army medic and he tought me the basics. The rest I learned from a doctor friend.

Also make sure to keep a high quality set of instruments taped to each stapler you own. It is extremely difficult to do it without a good pair of tweezers. It's also a bitch removing the metal staples without the proper tool. Scissors or pliers don't work!

Good luck and hope you never have to use it...