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Lip Laceration
From WikEM
Contents
Background
Clinical Features
Differential Diagnosis
Evaluation
Management
- Antibiotics not required
- Vermillion border and philtrum architecture must be maintained for cosmesis
- Infiltration of local anesthetic can distort soft tissue
- Consider Nerve Block: Infraorbital for upper lip, Nerve Block: Mental for lower lip
- Consider marking vermillion border prior to infiltration of anesthetic to facilitate repair
Intraoral mucosal laceration (isolated)
- Only need to close if >1cm
- Use absorbable 5-0 suture
- Avoid catching underlying muscle during suturing
Through-and-through laceration
Close in layers:
- Close mucosal layer with absorbable 5-0 suture
- Irrigate from outside
- Close orbicularis oris muscle with 4-0 or 5-0 absorbable suture
- Close skin with 6-0 nonabsorbable suture
Vermilion border laceration
- Place 1st stitch with 6-0 nonabsorbable suture to align edges of vermilion border
- Then repair rest of lip in usual manner
Disposition
- Usually outpatient
See Also
External Links
References
- Rosens Chapter 42 - Facial Trauma
