Does this require medical attention?

[Agent-A01]

So i dropped a coffee cup 15 mins ago and i tried to catch it before it hit the counter but it broke in half before i got to it and i felt a sharp pain in my lower part of my thumb; lots of blood came out and was squirting out 3inches or so. got a paper towel on it and it soaked up a lot of blood(there was no white in the paper towel). after the 2nd towel it stopped bleeding. Is there like an artery or something in the thumb? dont know why it would squirt out like that. the cut is about 1/3 an inch deep give or take and hurts when i move it. currently put some antibiotic ointment and a bandaid on it after i cleaned all the blood off my hand. is this all i need to do and wait for it to heal? or does it require medical attention?

[thatguy91]

I guess if we don't see any posts from you from now on, we know what the answer should have been?

I would expect it to hurt, but I dare say infection and improper healing (may need stitches) would be more of a worry. Maybe use those stick on stitches things you can buy (holds the wound together) after using an antiseptic on it and drying it, and limit movement.

HINT: If you thumb turns a strange colour I would seek proper medical advice!

[Mufflore]

Get to hospital.

[IcE]

You probably could use some stitches.

[volkov956]

U can survive a rip open artery I had my wrist torn open and I could shoot blood like spiderman took 3months to heal but then again being over 12hrs away by drive to a hospital made it a no choice

[Year]

Originally Posted by Agent-A01

So i dropped a coffee cup 15 mins ago and i tried to catch it before it hit the counter but it broke in half before i got to it and i felt a sharp pain in my lower part of my thumb; lots of blood came out and was squirting out 3inches or so. got a paper towel on it and it soaked up a lot of blood(there was no white in the paper towel). after the 2nd towel it stopped bleeding. Is there like an artery or something in the thumb? dont know why it would squirt out like that. the cut is about 1/3 an inch deep give or take and hurts when i move it. currently put some antibiotic ointment and a bandaid on it after i cleaned all the blood off my hand. is this all i need to do and wait for it to heal? or does it require medical attention?

if the bleeding stops you don't need further medical attention, unless the cut was caused by real glass, in that case you might need to get a "tetanus" shot.

[mezball]

Originally Posted by Agent-A01

So i dropped a coffee cup 15 mins ago and i tried to catch it before it hit the counter but it broke in half before i got to it and i felt a sharp pain in my lower part of my thumb; lots of blood came out and was squirting out 3inches or so. got a paper towel on it and it soaked up a lot of blood(there was no white in the paper towel). after the 2nd towel it stopped bleeding. Is there like an artery or something in the thumb? dont know why it would squirt out like that. the cut is about 1/3 an inch deep give or take and hurts when i move it. currently put some antibiotic ointment and a bandaid on it after i cleaned all the blood off my hand. is this all i need to do and wait for it to heal? or does it require medical attention?

I did something similar back in the earlier 90's. I was working on a radio control car, and sliced the side of my left thumb where the knuckle bends with an hobby knife (Exact o Knife) right down to the bone. At the time I was home alone, with no transportation. Blood gusting everywhere just like you, almost passed out it was pretty gross. I applied pressure with a wash cloth, it stopped after a while. When my girl at the time got home, we applied anti-septic, a couple butterfly bandages, wrapped some gauze, and medical tape to prevent movement for a couple weeks.

If not seeking medical advice, keep it clean, covered, and watch for infection.

[Palerider]

If the bleeding has stopped, you can put super glue on it to close the wound. It's sterile, and will create it's own protective cover. This will help the skin re bond beneath it. It burns slightly, but don't freak out. It really does work.

[Saad]

depending on how deep it is you might need to get it stitched...lol no there arent any major arteries in the thumb :p go to the hospital..the wound might require an oral antibiotic course such as co-amoxiclav..and next time be careful

[Nomadspy]

hahahahaha had lot more serious stuff and never been in hospital ROFL.Once as kid i cut meat of my left thumb with razor and almost could see the bone.I just patched it with bandage and after few weeks the flesh was together again.I had scar for some years.12 to be exact but now surprisingly it is completely gone!

Oh and one advice!Use a lot alcohol on the wound.Infection is your greatest enemy!

[Azarobi]

shouldn't you be getting a Tetanus injection. Not sure, just wondering.

[ground_zero298]

Tetanus mostly lives in black dirt. Broken coffee cut would not warrant a Tetanus shot.

Rusty nail in woods would require one.

[Extraordinary]

Yes there is an artery in the thumb, thats why you are told to take someones pulse with your fingers and not your thumb so you don't feel your own pulse

(from wikipedia)
First dorsal metacarpal artery - arises just before the radial artery passes between the two heads of the first dorsal interosseous muscle and divides almost immediately into two branches which supply the adjacent sides of the thumb and index finger; the lateral side of the thumb receives a branch directly from the radial artery.

I would get it looked at, you might have damaged tendons which would affect movement when it heals, I cut my finger with a broken plate one time and can't bend it as well as the other ones now

[Anubis]

If it's no big hassle for you, go see a doc or at least call the hospital and ask for advice..
Otherwise it's no big deal imho.. I've cut myself so many times, that it's becoming funny..
And not all cuts were harmless.. The biggest one's scar is still visible clearly, and it's more then 10 years ago..

[Mikedogg]

Originally Posted by ground_zero298

Tetanus mostly lives in black dirt. Broken coffee cut would not warrant a Tetanus shot.

Rusty nail in woods would require one.

Funny, I've never had a tetanus injection, ever, and I have cut my feet open in more ways than one, and the amount of rusty nails that have gone into my feet and through my heel at times has never merrited one.

I guess the amazing uses of "Comfery" and a "poltus" speaks for it's self.

But, if you a paronoid as hell about it, I suggest seeing the doctor and getting a tetanus anyway.

[Foamy4]

Originally Posted by Agent-A01

the cut is about 1/3 an inch deep give or take and hurts when i move it. currently put some antibiotic ointment and a bandaid on it after i cleaned all the blood off my hand. is this all i need to do and wait for it to heal? or does it require medical attention?

Arteries are deeper than 1/3 of an inch. You might have cut a vein. Veins transports the blood back to the heart. You're fine if it stopped bleeding. Just keep it clean and treat it well as the others said.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Nomadspy

hahahahaha had lot more serious stuff and never been in hospital ROFL.Once as kid i cut meat of my left thumb with razor and almost could see the bone.I just patched it with bandage and after few weeks the flesh was together again.I had scar for some years.12 to be exact but now surprisingly it is completely gone!

Oh and one advice!Use a lot alcohol on the wound.Infection is your greatest enemy!

OP sounds worse.

[anticupidon]

get to the hospital
ask for a busty nurse to take care of you

[airbud7]

Originally Posted by Extraordinary

I would get it looked at, you might have damaged tendons which would affect movement when it heals,

This^ Is all I'm worried about(damaged tendons) the cut should heal ok...

[Finchwizard]

I'm sure you'll be fine.

Like someone said. Superglue it, whack a bandaid or wrap it.

Check it later and make sure there's no serious infection.
If in doubt you can get some stitches.

Otherwise if it's a pretty clean cut it'll heal pretty quick on it's own.

If you had cut a tendon or something else serious you would know about it.

[Agent-A01]

Thanks guys. Ive been Trying not to usw my thumb to allow it to heal so i dont keep re opening it. Really makes it a PITA in my daily activites without the use of my right hand. The cut is about an inch long, but its not too bad. I reckon if i dont get stitches itll be a scar? Overnight its already sealed itself mostly. lol i freaked out when i saw blood squirting out, it usually doesnt bother me when i see blood but i turned white on my face. I read that only arteries allow squirting of blood and veins should just leak blood out. Is that true?

[Cadoam]

Originally Posted by Finchwizard

I'm sure you'll be fine.

Like someone said. Superglue it, whack a bandaid or wrap it.

Check it later and make sure there's no serious infection.
If in doubt you can get some stitches.

Otherwise if it's a pretty clean cut it'll heal pretty quick on it's own.

If you had cut a tendon or something else serious you would know about it.

I can second the super glue, I work with glass and its easy to get small cuts from. they typically bleed more than anything but the super glue or liquid skin seals good

[Chouji]

If you have to ask, the answer is yes.
Goto a hospital.

[naike]

Man, you still alive?

[FatBoyNL]

Please go to a doctor?
There is a reason why you shouldn't try to feel the heart pulse of someone using your thumb. That same reason probably caused the blood squirting effect.