Puncture Wounds: Stitches, Staples, and Skin Glue

Puncture wounds are less likely than cuts to be stitched or stapled or to have skin glue applied because:

• Puncture wounds tend to be smaller than cuts and usually do not heal better or scar less when closed.
• Puncture wounds tend to be deeper, narrower, and harder to clean than cuts. Sealing bacteria into a wound when it is closed increases the risk of infection.
• If a puncture wound becomes infected, the wound usually drains better and heals faster when it is not closed.

Puncture wounds may be closed if the cosmetic appearance of the resulting scar will be greatly improved. They may also be closed if closing the wound is needed to restore function to an injured deep structure, such as a tendon or ligament.