Summary

All wounds sustained during sporting activities are considered dirty wounds. They require thorough cleaning, irrigation and exploration to assess and manage the full extent of any soft tissue damage before closure is undertaken. A temporising measure e.g. glueing, may be used to allow quick return to play, but this must be removed after competition and the wound cleaned and treated appropriately.

All wounds should be inspected within 48 hours to check for signs of infection and treated appropriately. The removal of sutures is dependent on the location of the wound and often adjusted to the player’s sporting activities. Care must be taken to undertake regular checks for signs of infection