only problem is that the skin will prob sweat like a bastard and the wound will get wet from the inside out. i tore some stitches like this when i wrapped them in glad wrap and tape and then went riding a dirt bike.
there is no point suggesting staying off the water- if your mind is made up you will kite no matter what

i copped my board in the head (don't ask how) and got 7 stitches as a result. doc said same thing, 7 days off. but i went back out after 3 days. as long as it's saltwater (ocean) and you clean the wound thoroughly afterwards you should be fine. if you're worried coat it with betadine after the session to kill any bacteria causing infection. just be carefuly you don't rip it open again.
mine healed fine (no infection) and i went kiting 3 times before the week was up haha.

Things are quiet at work here so I've got time to checkout some of these threads...and contribute more than previously.

Of course, the younger guys in this sport no doubt think that they're invincible and the following could only happen to us older guys!

Although it's tempting to get back on the water soon after taking an injury, may I suggest that it might be worth getting a course of antibiotics if you're planning to hit the water prematurely.

Some years ago, I got jagged by a snapshackle (whilst kiteboarding) which required surgical removal. I let the wound heal (partly) and got back onto the water as soon as I thought it would be OK.

Some weeks later I came down with an infection in the bloodstream. In my case, it nearly killed me and I was hospitalised for 6 weeks!!!

Of course, the hospital blamed the water in the bay and the environmental people blamed the hospital!

I thought I was particularly unlucky, but I've since learnt that this sort of infection is not uncommon and is capable of landing in your heart (as it did in my case) or in your brain, etc.

Doctors are particularly concerned about head and facial injuries, because an infection doesn't have to travel far to reach your brain or heart. To this day, I've been advised to take antibiotics prior to having any dental procedures done!!!

So I'd strongly recommend requesting antibiotics if you plan to return to kiteboarding sooner rather than later. Good luck and happy kiting.

I once got 11 stitches in the shin: botched jump, and landed on one of the fins of my skypirate thruster...ouch & yucky-gory.

Same orders from the doc, 7 days etc - but was out 3 days later with gladwrap and a footie shinguard, just in case I got hit in the same area again

No probs.

Thanks Doc
I'll take that all on board this weekend.

Thanks for all the suggestions