Setting precedents for the treatment of hand lacerations

EDITOR—It is not stated who assessed the wounds, but I assume it was the authors. I am sure that they have great experience in hand assessment, but it has been reported that up to 49% of hand and forearm lacerations result in subclinical deep injuries. Even hand surgeons miss 16% of tendon injuries. My major concern is that this study might set a precedent for junior staff to treat all such injuries with minimal deference.

Although the study quantified the patients' subjective assessment of the pain of treatment, there was no mention of the occasionally disabling symptom of scar tenderness. Theoretically, an unsutured laceration will have a greater tendency to granulation tissue formation, with the possibility of a greater degree of disorganized reinnervation. I note that return to normal activities was similar …