title: Laceration repair in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Issues faced in the management of lacerations in children include control of pain and distress, wound cleaning and closure, referral decisions, awareness of potential associated injuries and strategies to prevent complications and optimise cosmetic outcome. The possibility of non-accidental injury may also require exploration.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This update will attempt to offer a current, evidence-informed approach to management of the most commonly seen lacerations, and discuss when specialist referral is appropriate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Successful laceration repair in children is a procedure that blends the arts of anaesthesia, distraction and reassurance with the mechanics of tissue repair itself. Although each laceration and each child deserves an individualised approach, certain principles remain consistent and provide the backbone of a decision-making structure in this therapeutic area.
authors.affiliation: FRACP (PEM), BSc (Hons), Paediatric Emergency Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, and Dept of Emergency Medicine, Logan Hospital, QLD.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lawton
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hadj
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D014945:Wound Healing; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control