Splinters....

[YorkshireMartin]

Why do splinters always end up in the most utterly awkward place possible?

Got one yesterday and as its on my palm, right on the crease between my thumb and forefinger, it's pretty deep and I doubt it will heal before the next labour government.

It's driving me nuts getting ripped open every few minutes when I open my palm.

Any pro-tips to make it heal?

 

[Kalimna]

Superglue?

 

[rafezetter]

get some of that drawing paste - magnesium sulphate - and draw it out otherwise the flesh around it will go necrotic and fill with pus which will take longer to heal - I had a really deep one in a finger a while back and the hole left by the infected flesh was far bigger than the splinter.

 

[doctor Bob]

Cut out with stanley knife and superglue.

 

[kostello]

I second the Stanley knife

Sent from my E2303 using Tapatalk

 

[Zeddedhed]

If it's really big drill it out with a Forstner Bit. (nice clean hole....)

 

[Phil Pascoe]

As dr.Bob.

 

[YorkshireMartin]

Got it out finally and managed to dig out some spray plaster stuff which usually works quite well.

Superglue....wouldn't have thought of that I have to admit. Forstner bit is a top idea, will keep in mind

 

[Graham Orm]

Had one right through my thumb once, broke off and came out in both directions leaving debris inside. Carried on with the day but by evening it was red and nasty. Ended up with anti biotics which sorted the infection.

 

[Monkey Mark]

Superglue....wouldn't have thought of that I have to admit.

Super Glue ( or rather Cyanoacrylate as the term Super Glue is a trademark, CA for short) has been used in medical and vetinary fields for years (1970's). The original cyanoacrylates were discovered in 1942 in the midst of a search for materials suitable for clear plastic gun sights for the war effort, not as a field dressing as is common belief, though it was sent out to Vietnam to help reduce bleeding from injured troops.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Cyanoacrylates adhesives were developed for wartime emergency first aid (Vietnam?) - body parts were glued until they could get to a field hospital. That's why they sticks flesh so well.

 

[Racers]

Cyanoacrylates adhesives were developed for wartime emergency first aid (Vietnam?) - body parts were glued until they could get to a field hospital. That's why they sticks flesh so well.

No it was developed for clear gun sights but they couldn't get them out the moulds http://www.supergluecorp.com/?q=history.html

I use a scalpel blade and superglue, its good stuff I had instead of stitches when I had my gall bladder out, I even had to add some extra as the hole in my bellybutton did leak a bit.

Pete

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yes, but as adhesives I believe it was as I said. I think it was called product 911. I believe it was Kodak.

 

[Monkey Mark]

Yes, but as adhesives I believe it was as I said. I think it was called product 911. I believe it was Kodak.

Discovered in 1942 by Dr Harry Coover whilst working for Kodak Laboratories, originally for plastic gun sights but was rejected.
In 1951 re-discovered (with help from the original scientist). They wanted to use it for airplane canopies. Not appropriate but they railised its potential.
First sold in 1958 under the name of Eastman #910
in the 60's it was sold to Loctite who rebranded it Quick Set 404
In 1964 Eastman submitted an application to use cyanoacrylate glues to seal wounds to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In '66 it was developed into a spray for use in the Vietnam war. The FDA had still not approved it for civilian use due to irritation.
'70s it was used in veterinarian fields.
After another two attemps at re-engineering the formula a less irritant and more flexible version was produced.
Accepted into general medical use in '98 under the name Dermabond. (Also under the less common names of Traumaseal, Soothe-n-Seal, Nexabond and for home use as Liquid Bandage).

Ok, I'll get my coat now. :roll:

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Thanks for that. I was told it was deliberately called 911, as it was the emergency code in the US.

 

[iNewbie]

The stuff used for gluing people isn't the same as the household type...


http://www.realfirstaid.co.uk/superglue/

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Of course. But I don't have to cover my back when I'm glueing the splits on the tip of my thumb. Maybe if I were removing my appendix I'd invest in the proper stuff.

 

[doctor Bob]

Anyway, splinters aren't really splinters unless

a/ they are under a nail (held down whilst someone removes with long nose pliers)
b/ over 10mm long and going in straight, none of this just under the skin
c/ in the cartilage between finger bones

the amazing thing about a splinter is that normally they feel about the size of a chair leg, but as you pull them out they shrink to just a few mm's.

 

[Racers]

I had a palm full from some far eastern ply, I dug most of them out, but a few days later lots of swelling and puss from the little bits that I left in.
Lots of tropical wood is nasty stuff with lots of chemicals in to deter the bugs from eating it.

Pete

 

[RobinBHM]

Wenge - horrible brittle splinters