The Bushman's Guide to Removing Surgical Staples
Due to some extenuating cirumstances, it was necessary to preform a home extraction of some of
the staples that were placed into the leg of the nub. What happened was we were not aware there
was a surgical incision that had been stapled closed on the calf of the leg that ends in the nub. While
the Nub was being inspected by the surgeon on the 14th of September, we forgot to bring the
staples to the attention to the doctor so the Nub came back home with staples in it.
At that point, there were two choices that we faced. One, let the staples be and have the doctor
remove them when we go back in two weeks; or two attempt to remove the staples ourselves
without any of the "proper" tools for staple extraction. Since most of the time, we live in a place
where no one has the "proper" tools for most jobs we decided that option number two was the one
for us.
the staples that were placed into the leg of the nub. What happened was we were not aware there
was a surgical incision that had been stapled closed on the calf of the leg that ends in the nub. While
the Nub was being inspected by the surgeon on the 14th of September, we forgot to bring the
staples to the attention to the doctor so the Nub came back home with staples in it.
At that point, there were two choices that we faced. One, let the staples be and have the doctor
remove them when we go back in two weeks; or two attempt to remove the staples ourselves
without any of the "proper" tools for staple extraction. Since most of the time, we live in a place
where no one has the "proper" tools for most jobs we decided that option number two was the one
for us.
The following is a list of tools necessary for the Bushman's method of
staple extraction.
1. One pair of diagonal dykes (wire cutters)
2. One pair of household tweezers.
3. Lots of courage and faith in the man with the cutters
staple extraction.
1. One pair of diagonal dykes (wire cutters)
2. One pair of household tweezers.
3. Lots of courage and faith in the man with the cutters
This is the diagram the method was
developed from. We used this diagram to
figure out what the staples look like when
they have been inserted into the skin. This
diagram came from the following website:
www.mani.co.jp/English/e-manipler2.html
developed from. We used this diagram to
figure out what the staples look like when
they have been inserted into the skin. This
diagram came from the following website:
www.mani.co.jp/English/e-manipler2.html
| Directions for extraction using the Bushman's method |
1. Be sure to completely sterilize all of
the tools that will be contacting the
wound during the operation.
Although this is the Bushman's
method, we are not about
propagating infection. This also
includes throughly washing and
disinfecting hands as well.
2. Using the tweezers, gently lift the
center of the staple away from the
wound enough to slide the wire
cutters under the staple.
3. With the cutters, cut the staple in
half.
4. Take the tweezers and gently
extract the staples from the skin
using the diagram on the left as
your guide.
the tools that will be contacting the
wound during the operation.
Although this is the Bushman's
method, we are not about
propagating infection. This also
includes throughly washing and
disinfecting hands as well.
2. Using the tweezers, gently lift the
center of the staple away from the
wound enough to slide the wire
cutters under the staple.
3. With the cutters, cut the staple in
half.
4. Take the tweezers and gently
extract the staples from the skin
using the diagram on the left as
your guide.
| If all else fails, you can watch this educational video that has been prepared which will allow you to observe the proper technique to use when extracting the staples the Bushman way. |
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| The only tools necessary to complete the job. A "good" (can be read cheap) pair of wire cutters and a functioning pair of forceps (we bushmen like to call them tweezers). |