A 6-Year-Old Boy Is Brought to the Emergency Department by His

question 784

Multiple Choice

A 6-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his parents due to a dog bite.  Approximately 16 hours ago, the patient was playing with the family dog in their backyard when the dog bit his left hand.  The parents immediately washed the wound with soap and water and applied topical antibiotic ointment.  When the child woke up this morning, he had increased pain exacerbated by making a fist.  The dog is up to date with recommended immunizations.  The boy has no medical issues and is current with his immunizations.  Vital signs are within normal limits.  On physical examination, a 2-cm × 1-cm ragged laceration is seen on the dorsal left hand.  There is minimal amount of serous drainage from the wound, and no redness or streaking is seen.  Full range of motion is present.  The wound is copiously irrigated with normal saline.  X-ray of the hand is normal.  Which of the following is the best next step in management of this patient?

• A)Administer local anesthetic and probe for foreign body
• B)Approximate wound edges and close with tissue adhesive
• C)Close the wound with nylon sutures
• D)Consult plastic surgery for wound closure
• E)Leave the wound open to drain

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Definitions:

Owned

The state of having legal rights to possess, use, and control a property or asset.

Reserve Army

Reserve army typically refers to a body of trained citizens held in readiness as a military force to be called upon in specific circumstances, but in Marxist theory, it also denotes the surplus labor available for capital exploitation.

Unemployed

Individuals who are without a job and actively seeking work.

Coined

Typically used to describe the creation of a new word or phrase, or the act of making coins.