open sore

I fell about 10 days ago and ended up with stitches at the base of my thumb.  The stitches are out but the open sore doesn't seem to be healing well.  What can I do?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be due to infection of the stitches site. Primarily caused by Staphylococcus aureus and sometimes by Streptococcus pyogenes. Topical and oral antibiotics are the treatment of choice. My sincere advice would be to consult a dermatologist and get them prescribed. You have to send a swab sample from the discharge for culture sensitivity. Also get your blood sugar levels estimated because wound healing is delayed in diabetics.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.