HELP! My husband cut his radial artery at work........

[Th1onein]

I think it's the radial artery, anyway. It's the major one on the outside of the thumb. We got the bleeding to stop by applying pressure, and as long as he keeps it bandaged, it won't bleed (and we aren't cutting off the circulation), but I need to know if it's necessary that he go to the hospital for surgery, or will just using pressure suffice? He has no health insurance.

[unblock]

1. hospital. now. go.

keep the arm above heart level and keep pressure applied with cutting off circulation.

if you're lucky and the bleeding is stopped without pressure before you enter the e.r., you MIGHT want to reconsider.

but personally, there's no way i'd not go to the e.r. with any arterial bleeding.

[IMayBeWrongBut]

2. I'm not qualified but...

any cut deep enough to get an artery probably needs at least a stitch or two. :(

[Stephanie]

3. If he did it at work he's covered

He's covered by Worker's Comp. The job has to cover him. It's the law.

[Th1onein]

6. Sorry, it doesn't.

[Stephanie]

10. Why not?

Doesn't every employer have to carry Workmen's Comp? I thought it was the law?

[Dogmudgeon]

12. A Worker not covered by Woorker's Comp?

Something sounds wrong.

Get him to the ER pronto. Call the attorney Monday morning.

Good luck!

--bkl

[unblock]

16. not every worker is covered by worker's comp

there are exceptions. self-employed being the most obvious.

i think it's optional if the company has no more than 10 employees, for instance.

[htuttle]

4. I'm thinking that if you're asking us here, he should probably go

But if it's not bleeding under a bandage, he could probably take a cab or drive himself instead of taking an ambulance (they aren't cheap).

Probably needs a few stitches.

[unblock]

9. i used to volunteer for a rescue squad

in south orange, nj.

our ambulance rides were free. we relied on donations, plus a little bit from the village.

paid squads charge though, and yes, it can run into a few hundred before you even get to the e.r.

[Esurientes]

5. Let us know how he is, please

And since it was at work, I'd hope Workman's Comp would pay your bills.

[Th1onein]

8. He's asleep right now. It's not bleeding anymore. Even under the bandage

I'm not worried about him bleeding to death. He worked for four hours, while it was spurting blood still (he's a pretty tough guy). I just want to know if it will be necessary to cauterize the artery.

[DS1]

11. Yeah! Get the poker and make it red hot!

Do it while he sleeps, it'll be easier that way.

:evilgrin:

[Demonaut]

31. cruel mf, lol

[unblock]

17. not being able to see the wound ...

... i have to recommend e.r. now.

internal bleeding is possible. so is reopening the wound while sleeping.

it's also possible that he lost enough blood to cause other problems.

of course, he could also be fine. but, again, i have to recommend getting it checked out.

[DS1]

7. Keep pressure on it. ice might also help, and elevate that arm

above the heart, over the head is better, unless you can see that the artery is severed beyond stitchless repair.

[Th1onein]

13. It's elevated over his head. And it hasn't bled for a couple of hours now

Not since we put the bandage on it. WHY in the world he would continue working spouting blood for HOURS, I don't know. He's a general contractor, though (puts on metal roofs--that's what he sliced it on: a piece of metal), and we have no insurance.

[Indiana_Dem]

19. I'm a nurse. Can't say much without seeing it but

usually it's a good idea to get stitches if you need them within a few hours. Another important thing is to make sure he has had a tetanus shot within the last 5-10 years. Go to the doctor with any warmth, redness, swelling to the site or systemic body temperature >101. The rest of the advice people have given is good, too. Ice, elevate, ibuprofen works well. Keep it clean and covered.

edited for typos!

[unblock]

24. ibuprofen? doesn't that thin the blood?

i would think that would promote bleeding.

i know ibuprofen makes ME bleed, but that's another story....

[Indiana_Dem]

27. yes, it does but if the bleeding is stopped and under control

it works the best. If he is on any blood thinners it is not a good idea, though. Tylenol would be best then. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory and would decreases any swelling and pain.

[unblock]

21. if he needs his hands for work, PLEASE, ER, NOW.

if his hands are part of his livelihood, consider the er run an investment or an insurance policy. you could lose far more money if he has to turn down several jobs while his hand is healing.

get it taken care of pronto.

[Indiana_Dem]

26. I know my husband is the same way so that's why

I'm telling you what to do WITHOUT going to the ER. My advice would be to go to the ER. He may need preventive antibiotics or a tetanus shot since it was a piece of metal especially. But I know how husbands can be. :eyes:

[absolutezero]

14. he could lose the thumb

sorry to freak you out but if he cut it deep enough to spurt blood it needs to be checked out.
And if he cut it at work they either pay or you sue them for it

[glitch]

15. my fear would be loss of mobility if it doesn't heal properly

I say go to the hospital, or if the bleeding is staunched see a doctor tomorrow. It won't be as expensive as emergency room, but at least they can make sure it's ready to heal right.

[Th1onein]

18. I might FORCE him to see a doctor tomorrow.

I doubt he will lose mobility in it. He didn't cut the tendon and he can move it. It's getting circulation, because it's warm. The nail is pink. He weighs over two hundred pounds and is stubborn as a mule, and I can't MAKE him do anything that he doesn't want to do. Damn! I really don't care about the hospital bills; I'm just worried about him.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

28. Check in your phone book for health clinics...

or urgent care clinics -- they can be MUCH cheaper than a doctor, sometimes free if you qualify. They have saved my neck when I've been without insurance.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

20. I thought if you were bleeding, and went into an ER...

They had to see you, insurance or not, ability to pay be damned?
Duckie

[Th1onein]

22. Yes, they do. But you still have a bill coming.......

My husband is a general contractor. We have no insurance. It's just not worth paying over $1000 a month for it. Even so, though, he will not go.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

25. An ER visit is cheap compared to what could be long term damage.

And I'm sorry insurance is so outrageous. I can't believe they haven't regulated the price or something.
Duckie

[Don_G]

23. Seek Medical Attention ASAP

I know I'm not a Doc and I don't know of any of "us" that are qualified as an LPN or better to offer constructive advice.

[SW FL Dem]

29. If it were my hubby, I would take him to the ER, n/t

[Egalitarian]

30. I'd do the same thing

As your husband I suspect. Presumably he was working with new aluminum roofing? IMO probably not much threat of tetanus (sp) from that. Pretty sure problems arise from materials containing iron, such as the common nail. Keep him hydrated, full of vitamins (C), and his wound and dressing clean. I'd be applying a triple anti-biotic cream (over the counter) to the wound itself as well. Watch for signs of spreading infection/swelling beyond the immediate cut. A little redness/swelling along the cut is normal, but a 25% bigger thumb is not. From my experience, redness along the cut will increase for a couple of days ever slowly, as will point tenderness, but then will begin a gradual retreat over a period of 3-10 days. I give this info based on my own history and only 120 hours or so of backcountry emergency training. Sorry I'm not a doctor and Sorry our health care system is so unfair. I'm uninsured as well-just playing the odds at this stage of my life. Oh yeah, I've often use wound closure strips to help keep cuts that sound like this one closed better so I can work more effectively and sooner. Commonly found at most drug stores. Clean skin with alchohol before for better adhesion. Good luck. Keep us up to date.

[Th1onein]

32. I put DMSO on the cut. This usually cuts healing time in half for him and

for me. I had a facelift about three years ago, and I used DMSO, because I'm a smoker. My incisions healed in three days. My doctor was amazed.

Anyway, I hope it heals that cut. It's pretty deep.

[Donkeyboy75]

35. Tough to correlate to a metal.

Tetanus is caused by bacteria, not metal poisoning. So anything that has been exposed to the elements for awhile (soil, etc.) can contain tetanus. And if an artery was cut by the metal...that's a lot of exposure. Get him to the ER. If his cut gets infected the expense will be much worse, I'm sure.

Good luck!

[huellewig]

33. I would get him to a hospital ASAP..

If cost is a issue and you have multiple hospitals in town I would call each one for a quote. For example: I went to the ER for the flu. $300. I went to a different hospital for being beat to a bloody ball of flesh. $80. So shop around the price can vary.

Most hospitals are very good with payment plans. I paid 20 bucks a month for the bill from the flu. I just doesn't seem worth risking permanent injuries for a few bucks a month.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

34. The main thing you need to look out for is infection

An infection in the blood as a result of a deep wound and an opened artery is known as sepsis and can be life threatening. He can also develope infection in the bone depending on the deepness of the cut. Gangrene is another possibility.

If the wound is red, swollen, inflamed or he developes even a LOW grade fever, take him immediately to an ER or 24 hour clinic.