Why dont Drs. use iodine anymore

[joosttx]

Just got back from the ER where I was treated for almost severing my ring finger off (broken bone and nine stitches). It was a pretty nasty wound and when they cleaned it they just washed it out with a liter of saline solution, wrapped it up and then stitched it up after local anestetic. I was suprised they did not use iodine. I asked the nurse who was bandaging me up why not and she said she did not know but they dont use it much anymore. Is this the norm these days? And what is the reason why? Also they did not give any pain killers. Instead, they told me to keep it elevated because the would be the best to eliminate swelling and pain. Though I am glad they are addressing the opioid epidemic but Im calling BS on the elevation thing.

[j44ke]

Deep wounds don't get iodine because of sensitivity reactions of tissue beneath the skin that would make things worse. And people can have allergic reactions beyond those. I don't think iodine is viewed as a highly effective prophylaxis against infection any longer.

I am guessing, but I suspect saline irrigation plus good wound care afterwards is more effective. And if not, they hit it with antibiotics. Elevation is more for swelling than pain. If it does swell and/or starts to feel warm to the touch, go back to the doctor.

More importantly, what were you doing? Spin balancing the lawnmower blade?

[joosttx]

Deep wounds don't get iodine because of sensitivity reactions of tissue beneath the skin that would make things worse. And people can have allergic reactions beyond those. I don't think iodine is viewed as a highly effective prophylaxis against infection any longer.

I am guessing, but I suspect saline irrigation plus good wound care afterwards is more effective. And if not, they hit it with antibiotics. Elevation is more for swelling than pain. If it does swell and/or starts to feel warm to the touch, go back to the doctor.

More importantly, what were you doing? Spin balancing the lawnmower blade?

Hedge trimming when I should of been Hedge funding.

[robin3mj]

Hedge trimming when I should of been Hedge funding.

If they had given you painkillers, we all might have been deprive of this nifty turn of phrase!

Heal up soon.

[Matthew Strongin]

Yikes! Heal up fast Houston.

[jerk]

jesus christ man. go to a hospital befitting of your wealth and hedgefund class standing. i'm sure there's a fentanyl patch there for you and muffy and the co-pay will take your amex black card.

[thollandpe]

Youch. Did a ring cause or exacerbate the trauma? I experienced some wedding ring damage in a crash. An alert EMT saved me more trauma by taking it off before swelling set in.

Heal well. And I hear the dispensaries can hook you up with more effective stuff than opioids.

[joosttx]

Youch. Did a ring cause or exacerbate the trauma? I experienced some wedding ring damage in a crash. An alert EMT saved me more trauma by taking it off before swelling set in.

Heal well. And I hear the dispensaries can hook you up with more effective stuff than opioids.

No, the only issue with the wedding ring was it needed to come off. The Dr deaden the figure and I pulled it off which is a good thing because this has obvisously the finger has swollen up. The big joke is the Nurse gave me a hazmat baggie to put it in for safe keeping. I am thankful my wife has a sense of humor.

[joosttx]

jesus christ man. go to a hospital befitting of your wealth and hedgefund class standing. i'm sure there's a fentanyl patch there for you and muffy and the co-pay will take your amex black card.

Yeah, i go to the hospital where they treat San Quentin residences. Good hospital I have made friends there.

[boots2000]

Marin General on a sunny weekend day? Chaos.

Last time I was at that ER I finally had to check myself out. I had sat around the ER for over 4 hours, shifts were changing, I was only half stitched up and cleaned out. Lots of people walking around- none of them finishing me off- I pulled the electrodes off my and IV out and said "time for me to go home".

[ldamelio]

Two things: iodine kills (your) living cells as well as bacteria and infection rates are lower when skin is prepped with chlorhexidine. Iodine based preps are gone in the new millenium.

[j44ke]

Ouch. Avoid chainsaws.

[joosttx]

Two things: iodine kills (your) living cells as well as bacteria and infection rates are lower when skin is prepped with chlorhexidine. Iodine based preps are gone in the new millenium.

Thanks. Chlorhexidane is what that used.

[joosttx]

Marin General on a sunny weekend day? Chaos.

Last time I was at that ER I finally had to check myself out. I had sat around the ER for over 4 hours, shifts were changing, I was only half stitched up and cleaned out. Lots of people walking around- none of them finishing me off- I pulled the electrodes off my and IV out and said "time for me to go home".

This has been my experince at Marin General but this time it seemed a little better. The Dr had excellent bed side manners. Really impressed.

[Moke]

Iodine is old school and is barely used anymore. As mentioned above it does have have some destructive properties to raw tissue and a fair number of people are allergic to it. I retired a couple years ago but in the hospital surgery center I worked at Chlorhexidine was pretty much the gold standard in skin prep. And a good hit of antibiotics helps a lot. Sterile saline is a good rinse fluid as it does not react to normal cell chemistry is clear and easy to use in large volumes.
No bullshit rule on elevation. Stuff runs down hill so elevation decreases swelling and swelling is a big factor in pain. Elevating wounds is very important for healing and comfort. Due to massive abuse, prescription schedule drugs are very regulated these days. But I think you should have been given a handful of some opioid product. So goes the way of modern medicine. Keep that thing clean and watch for infection.

[Lionel]

Shit what happened did you crash ?

[joosttx]

Shit what happened did you crash ?

hedgetrimmer

[maunahaole]

That’s hideous.

[Lionel]

Stop any yard work.

[j44ke]

Yeah, I think you are supposed to hold the trimmers by the other end.