Puncture wounds: First aid – Mayo Clinic

A puncture wound, such as from stepping on a nail, doesn’t usually cause much bleeding. But these wounds are often deep and can be dangerous because of the risk of infection.

To take care of a puncture wound:

1. Wash your hands. This helps prevent infection.
2. Stop the bleeding. Apply gentle pressure with a clean bandage or cloth.
3. Clean the wound. Rinse the wound with clear water for five to 10 minutes. If dirt or debris remains in the wound, use a washcloth to gently scrub it off. See a doctor if you can’t remove all of the dirt or debris.

4. Apply an antibiotic. Apply a thin layer of an antibiotic cream or ointment (Neosporin, Polysporin). For the first two days, rewash the area and reapply the antibiotic when you change the dressing.

   Certain ingredients in some ointments can cause a mild rash in some people. If a rash appears, stop using the product and seek medical care.

5. Cover the wound. Bandages help keep the wound clean.
6. Change the dressing. Do this daily or whenever the bandage becomes wet or dirty.
7. Watch for signs of infection. See a doctor if the wound isn’t healing or you notice any spreading redness, increasing pain, pus, swelling or fever.

Seek prompt medical care

Get immediate medical help if the wound:

• Keeps bleeding after a few minutes of direct pressure
• Is the result of an animal or human bite
• Is deep and dirty
• Is caused by a metal object
• Is deep and to the head, neck, scrotum, chest or abdomen
• Is over a joint and could be deep

If the injured person hasn’t had a tetanus shot in the past five years and the wound is deep or dirty, your doctor may recommend a booster. The injured person should have the booster shot within 48 hours of the injury.

If the wound was caused by a cat or a dog, try to confirm that its rabies vaccination is up to date. If it was caused by a wild animal, seek advice from your doctor about which animals are most likely to carry rabies.

Aug. 15, 2019

Show references

1. Puncture wounds. American College of Emergency Physicians. http://www.emergencycareforyou.org/emergency-101/puncture-wounds/. Accessed July 10, 2019.
2. Thompson DA. Puncture wound. In: Adult Telephone Protocols. Office Version. 4th ed. Itasca, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2018.
3. Briggs JK. Puncture wound. In: Triage Protocols for Aging Adults. Philadelphia, Pa.: Wolters Kluwer; 2019.
4. Rerucha CM, et al. Acute hand infections. American Family Physician. 2019;99:228.
5. Goyal DG (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 22, 2017.
6. Pruthi S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 22, 2017.
7. Kermott CA, et al. , eds. Emergencies and urgent care. In: Mayo Clinic Guide to Self-Care. 7th ed. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2017.

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Puncture Wound

Is this your child’s symptom?

• The skin is punctured by a pointed narrow object

Causes of Puncture Wounds

• Metal: nail, sewing needle, pin, tack
• Pencil: pencil lead is actually graphite (harmless). It is not poisonous lead. Even colored leads are not toxic.
• Wood: toothpick

Complications of Puncture Wounds

• Retained Foreign Object. This happens if part of the sharp object breaks off in the skin. The pain will not go away until it is removed.
• Wound Infection. This happens in 4% of foot punctures. The main symptom is spreading redness 2 or 3 days after the injury.
• Bone Infection. If the sharp object also hits a bone, the bone can become infected. Punctures of the ball of the foot are at greatest risk. The main symptoms are increased swelling and pain 2 weeks after the injury.

When to Call for Puncture Wound

Call 911 Now

• Deep puncture on the head, neck, chest, back or stomach
• You think your child has a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

• Puncture into a joint
• Feels like something is still in the wound
• Won’t stand (bear weight or walk) on punctured foot
• Needlestick from used needle (may have been exposed to another person’s blood)
• Sharp object or setting was very dirty (such as a playground or dirty water)
• No past tetanus shots
• Dirt in the wound is not gone after 15 minutes of scrubbing
• Severe pain and not better 2 hours after taking pain medicine
• Wound looks infected (spreading redness, red streaks)
• Fever occurs
• You think your child has a serious injury
• You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• Last tetanus shot was more than 5 years ago
• You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

Seattle Children’s Urgent Care Locations

If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.

Care Advice for Puncture Wound

1. What You Should Know About Puncture Wounds:
   • Most puncture wounds do not need to be seen.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Cleaning the Wound:
   • First wash off the foot, hand or other punctured skin with soap and water.
   • Then soak the puncture wound in warm soapy water for 15 minutes.
   • For any dirt or debris, gently scrub the wound surface back and forth. Use a wash cloth to remove any dirt.
   • If the wound re-bleeds a little, that may help remove germs.
3. Antibiotic Ointment:
   • Use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed.
   • Then, cover with a bandage (such as Band-Aid). This helps to reduce the risk of infection.
   • Re-wash the wound and put on antibiotic ointment every 12 hours.
   • Do this for 2 days.
4. Pain Medicine:
   • To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
   • Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
   • Use as needed.
5. What to Expect:
   • Puncture wounds seal over in 1 to 2 hours.
   • Pain should go away within 2 days.
6. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Dirt in the wound still there after 15 minutes of scrubbing
   • Pain becomes severe
   • Looks infected (redness, red streaks, pus, fever)
   • You think your child needs to be seen
   • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the ‘Call Your Doctor’ symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

Last Reviewed: 05/30/2021

Last Revised: 03/11/2021

Copyright 2000-2021. Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.

Puncture Wound – What You Need to Know

This material must not be used for commercial purposes, or in any hospital or medical facility. Failure to comply may result in legal action.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

What is a puncture wound?

A puncture wound is a hole in the skin made by a sharp, pointed object. The area may be bruised or swollen. You may have bleeding, pain, or trouble moving the affected area.

How is a puncture wound diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will examine your injury and look for signs and symptoms of infection. He or she will also check how well you can move the injured area and ask if you have any numbness. Tell your provider how and when you were injured, especially if it was an animal bite.

• An x-ray, ultrasound, CT, or MRI may show deeper injuries or foreign objects. You may be given contrast liquid to help the injury or objects show up better in the pictures. Tell the healthcare provider if you have ever had an allergic reaction to contrast liquid. Do not enter the MRI room with anything metal. Metal can cause serious injury. Tell the healthcare provider if you have any metal in or on your body.

How is a puncture wound treated?

Treatment depends on how severe the wound is and when the injury happened. You may need any of the following:

• Wound cleaning may be needed to remove dirt or debris. This will decrease the chance of infection. Before the wound is cleaned, your healthcare provider may give you medicine to numb the area and help you relax.
• Medicine to treat pain or prevent a bacterial infection may be given.
• A tetanus vaccine may be needed. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had the tetanus vaccine or a booster within the last 5 years. You may be given a tetanus shot, if needed.
• Surgery may be needed if your wound needs a lot of cleaning or removal of deep foreign objects. Your wound may be left open until it heals, or it may be closed with stitches.

How can I manage my symptoms?

• Rest and elevate the injured area above the level of your heart as often as you can. This will help decrease swelling and pain. Prop your injured area on pillows or blankets to keep it elevated comfortably.

When should I seek immediate care?

• You have severe pain.
• You have numbness or tingling in the area of your wound.
• Your wound starts bleeding and does not stop, even after you apply pressure.

When should I call my doctor?

• You have new drainage or a bad odor coming from the wound.
• You have a fever or chills.
• You have increased swelling, redness, or pain.
• You have red streaks on your skin coming from your wound.
• You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2021 Information is for End User’s use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. All illustrations and images included in CareNotes® are the copyrighted property of A.D.A.M., Inc. or IBM Watson Health

Learn more about Puncture Wound

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Puncture Wounds – ACFAS

What Is a Puncture Wound?

Puncture wounds are not the same as cuts. A puncture wound has a small entry hole caused by a pointed object, such as a nail that you’ve stepped on. In contrast, a cut is an open wound that produces a long tear in the skin. Puncture wounds require different treatment from cuts because these small holes in the skin can disguise serious injury.

Puncture wounds are common in the foot, especially in warm weather when people go barefoot. But even though they occur frequently, puncture wounds of the foot are often inadequately treated. If not properly treated, infection or other complications can develop.

Proper treatment within the first 24 hours is especially important with puncture wounds because they carry the danger of embedding the piercing object (foreign body) under the skin. Research shows that complications can be prevented if the patient seeks professional treatment right away.

Foreign Bodies in Puncture Wounds
A variety of foreign bodies can become embedded in a puncture wound. Nails, glass, toothpicks, sewing needles, insulin needles, and seashells are some common ones. In addition, pieces of your own skin, sock, and shoe can be forced into the wound during a puncture, along with dirt and debris from the object. All puncture wounds are dirty wounds because they involve penetration of an object that isn’t sterile. Anything that remains in the wound increases your chance of developing other problems, either in the near future or later.

Severity of Wounds
There are different ways of determining the severity of a puncture wound. Depth of the wound is one way to evaluate it. The deeper the puncture, the more likely it is that complications such as infection will develop. Many patients cannot judge how far their puncture extends into the foot. Therefore, if you’ve stepped on something and the skin was penetrated, seek treatment as soon as possible.

The type and the “cleanliness” of the penetrating object also determine the severity of the wound. Larger or longer objects can penetrate deeper into the tissues, possibly causing more damage. The dirtier an object, such as a rusty nail, the more dirt and debris are dragged into the wound, increasing the chance of infection.

Another thing that can determine wound severity is if you were wearing socks and shoes, particles of which can get trapped in the wound.

Treatment
A puncture wound must be cleaned properly and monitored throughout the healing process to avoid complications.

Even if you have gone to an emergency room for immediate treatment of your puncture wound, see a foot and ankle surgeon for a thorough cleaning and careful follow-up. The sooner you do this, the better: within 24 hours after injury, if possible.

The surgeon will make sure the wound is properly cleaned and no foreign body remains. He or she may numb the area, thoroughly clean inside and outside the wound, and monitor your progress. In some cases, x-rays may be ordered to determine whether something remains in the wound or if bone damage has occurred. Antibiotics may be prescribed if necessary.

Avoiding Complications
Follow the foot and ankle surgeon’s instructions for care of the wound to prevent complications (see “Puncture Wounds: What You Should Do”).

Infection is a common complication of puncture wounds that can lead to serious consequences. Sometimes a minor skin infection evolves into a bone or joint infection, so you should be aware of signs to look for. A minor skin infection may develop in two to five days after injury. The signs of a minor infection that show up around the wound include soreness, redness, and possibly drainage, swelling, and warmth. You may also develop a fever. If these signs have not improved, or if they reappear in 10 to 14 days, a serious infection in the joint or bone may have developed.

Other complications that may arise from inadequate treatment of puncture wounds include painful scarring in the area of the wound or a hard cyst where the foreign body has remained in the wound.

Although the complications of puncture wounds can be quite serious, early and proper treatment can play a crucial role in preventing them.

Puncture Wound: Foot

A puncture wound occurs when a pointed object (such as a nail) pushes into the skin. It may go into the tissues below the skin of the foot, including fat and muscle. This type of wound is narrow and deep. They can be hard to clean. Puncture wounds are at high risk for becoming infected. One type of serious infection is more likely if you were wearing a rubber-soled shoe at the time of injury. Bacteria from the sole of the shoe may be dragged into the wound. Symptoms of infection may appear as late as 2 to 3 weeks after the injury. Be sure to watch for symptoms of infection and call your healthcare provider right away if any them appear.

X-rays may be done to see whether any objects remain under the skin. Your may also need a tetanus shot. This is given if you are not up-to-date on this vaccination and the object that caused the wound may lead to tetanus.

Puncture wounds can easily become infected. 

Home care

• When you sit or lie down, raise the foot above the level of your heart. This helps reduce swelling and pain.

• Don’t put weight on the injured foot if it hurts to do so or if you were told to keep weight off the injury.

• Your healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic. This is to help prevent infection. Follow all instructions for taking this medicine. Take the medicine every day until it is gone or you are told to stop. You should not have any left over.

• The healthcare provider may prescribe medicines for pain. Follow instructions for taking them.

• You can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain, unless you were given a different pain medicine to use. 

• Follow the healthcare provider’s instructions on how to care for the wound.

• Keep the wound clean and dry. Don’t get the wound wet until you are told it is OK to do so. If the area gets wet, gently pat it dry with a clean cloth. Replace the wet bandage with a dry one.

• If a bandage was applied and it becomes wet or dirty, replace it. Otherwise, leave it in place for the first 24 hours.

• Once you can get the wound wet, you may shower as usual but don’t soak the wound in water (no tub baths or swimming)

• Check the wound daily for symptoms of infection. These include:

  • Increasing redness or swelling around the wound

  • Increased warmth of the wound

  • Worsening pain

  • Red streaking lines away from the wound

  • Draining pus

Follow-up care

Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised. 

When to seek medical advice

Call your healthcare provider right away if any of these occur:

• Any symptoms of infection (listed above)

• Fever of 100.4°F (38.ºC) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider

• Wound changes colors

• Numbness around the wound

• Decreased movement around the injured area

Puncture Wounds | HealthLink BC

Do you have a puncture wound?

This is a wound caused by a sharp, pointed object going through the skin. Puncture wounds are deeper and narrower than cuts.

How old are you?

Less than 12 years

Less than 12 years

12 years or older

12 years or older

Are you male or female?

Why do we ask this question?

The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.

• If you are transgender or non-binary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
• If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
• If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as “male” and once as “female”). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.

Do you have an eye injury?

Do you have an injury caused by a fish hook?

Do you have a deep wound in your head, neck, chest, or belly?

A deep puncture wound in any of these areas could damage the internal organs.

Yes

Deep puncture wound to head, neck, chest, or belly

No

Deep puncture wound to head, neck, chest, or belly

Are you having trouble breathing (more than a stuffy nose)?

Yes

Difficulty breathing more than a stuffy nose

No

Difficulty breathing more than a stuffy nose

Has the pain lasted for more than 8 hours?

Yes

Pain for more than 8 hours

No

Pain for more than 8 hours

Is the pain getting worse?

Have you been injected with something under high pressure, like oil or paint from a sprayer?

Yes

Injection under high pressure

No

Injection under high pressure

Is there a deep puncture in or over a joint?

A puncture that goes into a joint can be serious.

Yes

Deep puncture in joint area

No

Deep puncture in joint area

Do you have a wound on your arm, leg, hand, or foot that is more than just a scratch?

For an arm or leg wound, is the skin below the wound (farther down the limb) blue, pale, or cold to the touch and different from the other arm or leg?

This may mean that a major blood vessel was damaged and that blood is not reaching the rest of the arm or leg.

Yes

Skin is blue, pale, or cold below an arm or leg injury

No

Skin is blue, pale, or cold below an arm or leg injury

Can you move the area below the injury normally, even though it may hurt?

Yes

Able to move limb normally below injury

No

Unable to move limb normally below injury

For an arm or leg wound, is there any numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling around the wound or below the wound (farther down the arm or leg)?

This may mean that a nerve was damaged.

Yes

Numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling around or below an arm or leg injury

No

Numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling around or below an arm or leg injury

Do you think you may have a fever?

Are there red streaks leading away from the area or pus draining from it?

Do you have diabetes, a weakened immune system, peripheral arterial disease, or any surgical hardware in the area?

“Hardware” includes things like artificial joints, plates or screws, catheters, and medicine pumps.

Yes

Diabetes, immune problems, peripheral arterial disease, or surgical hardware in affected area

No

Diabetes, immune problems, peripheral arterial disease, or surgical hardware in affected area

Have you been stuck with a used or dirty needle?

Yes

Stuck with used or dirty needle

No

Stuck with used or dirty needle

Is there an object stuck in the wound, and you can’t get it out?

You may not be able to remove it because of where or how deep the wound is or because it causes severe pain.

Is the object large or small?

Large means things like a nail or piece of wood that is at least 5.1 cm (2 in.) long and anything bigger than that. Small means things like a pencil tip or a small splinter or sliver.

Large

Large embedded object

Small

Small embedded object

Did you have swelling or bruising within 30 minutes of the injury?

Yes

Swelling or bruising within 30 minutes of injury

No

Swelling or bruising within 30 minutes of injury

Has the swelling or bruising raised a lump that’s more than about 4 cm (1.5 in.) across or deep? This would be bigger than a golf ball or Ping-Pong ball.

Yes

Lump bigger than golf ball or Ping-Pong ball

No

Lump bigger than golf ball or Ping-Pong ball

Do you have a puncture wound in your foot?

Yes

Puncture wound in foot

Did the object go through a shoe or boot?

An object that has enough force behind it to go through a shoe can cause serious injury to the foot. Puncture wounds in the sole of the foot also have a high risk of infection.

Yes

Object went through a shoe or boot

No

Object went through a shoe or boot

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

• Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
• Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
• Medicines you take. Certain medicines and natural health products can cause symptoms or make them worse.
• Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
• Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.

• Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
• Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.

Symptoms of infection may include:

• Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in or around the area.
• Red streaks leading from the area.
• Pus draining from the area.
• A fever.

Pain in adults and older children

• Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that you can’t stand it for more than a few hours, can’t sleep, and can’t do anything else except focus on the pain.
• Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it’s severe when it’s there.
• Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

Pain in children under 3 years

It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in.

• Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or grimace.
• Moderate pain (5 to 7): The baby is very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds when you try to comfort him or her.
• Mild pain (1 to 4): The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds when you try to comfort him or her.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system’s ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:

• Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
• Long-term alcohol and drug problems.
• Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions.
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
• Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease.
• Medicines taken after organ transplant.
• Not having a spleen.

With severe bleeding, any of these may be true:

• Blood is pumping from the wound.
• The bleeding does not stop or slow down with pressure.
• Blood is quickly soaking through bandage after bandage.

With moderate bleeding, any of these may be true:

• The bleeding slows or stops with pressure but starts again if you remove the pressure.
• The blood may soak through a few bandages, but it is not fast or out of control.

With mild bleeding, any of these may be true:

• The bleeding stops on its own or with pressure.
• The bleeding stops or slows to an ooze or trickle after 15 minutes of pressure. It may ooze or trickle for up to 45 minutes.

You may need a tetanus shot depending on how dirty the wound is and how long it has been since your last shot.

• For a deep or dirty wound that has things like dirt, saliva, or feces in it, you may need a shot if:
  • You haven’t had a tetanus shot in the past 5 years.
  • You don’t know when your last shot was.
  • You have not received 3 doses of the tetanus vaccine series.
• For a clean wound, you may need a shot if:
  • You have not had a tetanus shot in the past 10 years.
  • You don’t know when your last shot was.
  • You have not received 3 doses of the tetanus vaccine series.

Symptoms of difficulty breathing can range from mild to severe. For example:

• You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk (mild difficulty breathing), or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all (severe difficulty breathing).
• It may be getting hard to breathe with activity (mild difficulty breathing), or you may have to work very hard to breathe even when you’re at rest (severe difficulty breathing).

Seek Care Today

Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.

• Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
• If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care today.
• If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
• If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

• Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
• If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care in the next hour.
• You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
  • You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
  • You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

Sometimes people don’t want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren’t serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

Put direct, steady pressure on the wound until help arrives. Keep the area raised if you can.

Sometimes people don’t want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren’t serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.

Eye Injuries

Fish Hook Injuries

Cuts | HealthLink BC

Do you have a cut?

Cuts are open wounds that slice or tear through the skin.

How old are you?

Less than 12 years

Less than 12 years

12 years or older

12 years or older

Are you male or female?

Why do we ask this question?

The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.

• If you are transgender or non-binary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
• If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
• If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as “male” and once as “female”). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.

Do you have a puncture wound?

This is a wound caused by a sharp, pointed object going through the skin. Puncture wounds are deeper and narrower than cuts.

Is there a cut to the eyeball?

Is the wound more of a scrape than a cut?

Do you have a deep wound in your head, neck, chest, or belly?

A deep puncture wound in any of these areas could damage the internal organs.

Yes

Deep puncture wound to head, neck, chest, or belly

No

Deep puncture wound to head, neck, chest, or belly

Are you having trouble breathing (more than a stuffy nose)?

Yes

Difficulty breathing more than a stuffy nose

No

Difficulty breathing more than a stuffy nose

Has the pain lasted for more than 8 hours?

Yes

Pain for more than 8 hours

No

Pain for more than 8 hours

Is the pain getting worse?

Do you have a wound on your arm, leg, hand, or foot that is more than just a scratch?

For an arm or leg wound, is the skin below the wound (farther down the limb) blue, pale, or cold to the touch and different from the other arm or leg?

This may mean that a major blood vessel was damaged and that blood is not reaching the rest of the arm or leg.

Yes

Skin is blue, pale, or cold below an arm or leg injury

No

Skin is blue, pale, or cold below an arm or leg injury

Can you move the area below the injury normally, even though it may hurt?

Yes

Able to move limb normally below injury

No

Unable to move limb normally below injury

For an arm or leg wound, is there any numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling around the wound or below the wound (farther down the arm or leg)?

This may mean that a nerve was damaged.

Yes

Numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling around or below an arm or leg injury

No

Numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling around or below an arm or leg injury

Do you think you may have a fever?

Are there red streaks leading away from the area or pus draining from it?

Do you have diabetes, a weakened immune system, peripheral arterial disease, or any surgical hardware in the area?

“Hardware” includes things like artificial joints, plates or screws, catheters, and medicine pumps.

Yes

Diabetes, immune problems, peripheral arterial disease, or surgical hardware in affected area

No

Diabetes, immune problems, peripheral arterial disease, or surgical hardware in affected area

Is the wound deep enough that you can see the bone, muscle, or tendon?

Muscle looks dark and thick, and tendon and bone looks white and shiny.

Yes

Muscle, tendon, or bone is visible

No

Muscle, tendon, or bone is visible

Were you able to clean the wound well?

You may not be able to clean the wound if it is deep, hurts too much, or has an object stuck in it.

Yes

Able to adequately clean wound

No

Unable to adequately clean wound

Is there an object stuck in the wound, and you can’t get it out?

You may not be able to remove it because of where or how deep the wound is or because it causes severe pain.

Is the object large or small?

Large means things like a nail or piece of wood that is at least 5.1 cm (2 in.) long and anything bigger than that. Small means things like a pencil tip or a small splinter or sliver.

Large

Large embedded object

Small

Small embedded object

Is the cut or wound more than 0.6 cm (0.25 in.) deep and 2.0 cm (0.75 in.) long with sides that gape open?

Wounds like this often need stitches. If you need stitches, it’s best to get them within 8 hours of the injury.

Yes

Cut more than 0.6 cm (0.25 in.) deep and 2.0 cm (0.75 in.) long with sides that gape open

No

Cut more than 0.6 cm (0.25 in.) deep and 2.0 cm (0.75 in.) long with sides that gape open

Is the wound on the face?

Are you worried about scarring?

Yes

Worried about scarring

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

• Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
• Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
• Medicines you take. Certain medicines and natural health products can cause symptoms or make them worse.
• Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
• Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.

• Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
• Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.

Symptoms of infection may include:

• Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in or around the area.
• Red streaks leading from the area.
• Pus draining from the area.
• A fever.

To clean a wound well:

• Wash your hands first.
• Remove large pieces of dirt or debris from the wound with cleaned tweezers. Do not push the tweezers deeply into the wound.
• Hold the wound under cool running water. If you have a sprayer in your sink, you can use it to help remove dirt and other debris from the wound.
• Scrub gently with water, a mild soap, and a face cloth.
• If some dirt or other debris is still in the wound, clean it again.
• If the wound starts to bleed, put direct, steady pressure on it.

If a chemical has caused a wound or burn, follow the instructions on the chemical’s container or call your provincial poison centre to find out what to do. Most chemicals should be rinsed off with lots of water, but with some chemicals, water may make the burn worse.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system’s ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:

• Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
• Long-term alcohol and drug problems.
• Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions.
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
• Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease.
• Medicines taken after organ transplant.
• Not having a spleen.

You may need a tetanus shot depending on how dirty the wound is and how long it has been since your last shot.

• For a deep or dirty wound that has things like dirt, saliva, or feces in it, you may need a shot if:
  • You haven’t had a tetanus shot in the past 5 years.
  • You don’t know when your last shot was.
  • You have not received 3 doses of the tetanus vaccine series.
• For a clean wound, you may need a shot if:
  • You have not had a tetanus shot in the past 10 years.
  • You don’t know when your last shot was.
  • You have not received 3 doses of the tetanus vaccine series.

Pain in adults and older children

• Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that you can’t stand it for more than a few hours, can’t sleep, and can’t do anything else except focus on the pain.
• Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it’s severe when it’s there.
• Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

Pain in children under 3 years

It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in.

• Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or grimace.
• Moderate pain (5 to 7): The baby is very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds when you try to comfort him or her.
• Mild pain (1 to 4): The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds when you try to comfort him or her.

Some types of facial wounds are more likely to leave a scar than others. These include:

• Jagged wounds on the face.
• Cuts on the eyelids.
• Cuts to the lips, especially if they cut through the edge of the lip.

Stitches or other treatment may help prevent scarring. It’s best to get treated within 8 hours of the injury.

With severe bleeding, any of these may be true:

• Blood is pumping from the wound.
• The bleeding does not stop or slow down with pressure.
• Blood is quickly soaking through bandage after bandage.

With moderate bleeding, any of these may be true:

• The bleeding slows or stops with pressure but starts again if you remove the pressure.
• The blood may soak through a few bandages, but it is not fast or out of control.

With mild bleeding, any of these may be true:

• The bleeding stops on its own or with pressure.
• The bleeding stops or slows to an ooze or trickle after 15 minutes of pressure. It may ooze or trickle for up to 45 minutes.

Symptoms of difficulty breathing can range from mild to severe. For example:

• You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk (mild difficulty breathing), or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all (severe difficulty breathing).
• It may be getting hard to breathe with activity (mild difficulty breathing), or you may have to work very hard to breathe even when you’re at rest (severe difficulty breathing).

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

• Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
• If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care in the next hour.
• You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
  • You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
  • You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Seek Care Today

Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.

• Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
• If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care today.
• If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
• If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

Sometimes people don’t want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren’t serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

Put direct, steady pressure on the wound until help arrives. Keep the area raised if you can.

Sometimes people don’t want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren’t serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.

Puncture Wounds

Scrapes

Eye Injuries

Types of wounds and methods of their treatment

Acute traumatic wound.

Depending on the type and circumstances of the accident, the so-called “traumatic wounds” vary greatly in the degree of tissue damage.

Ranging from shallow skin lesions to complex wounds that can involve tendons, muscles, nerve fibers, blood vessels, bones or internal organs. Sometimes the skin remains intact, and the subcutaneous tissues and bones are damaged.This is called a “closed wound” as opposed to an “open wound”.

A large wound or a small one, serious or not very serious – the more effective first aid was provided, the more chances for its successful healing.

There are two types of wound treatment, namely, preliminary and prescribed by a doctor. Pre-treatment of wounds includes all first aid measures. Depending on the severity of the wound, the prescribed or primary treatment of the wound is carried out by surgeons in polyclinics or in hospitals.
Depending on the nature of the wound received, the person providing first aid can face a wide variety of situations, each of which requires an appropriate response. Providing first aid for abrasions, scrapes or cuts on the skin can sometimes take the form of prescribed treatment.

Generally accepted rules and guidelines for wound care

When treating wounds, it is advisable to follow the following rules and recommendations:

– When providing first aid, if possible, sit or lay down the victim, while the affected part of the body should be at maximum rest.

– To avoid possible infection or infection, do not touch wounds or the skin around them with bare hands (use disposable gloves).

– As soon as you find a wound, it must be covered with a sterile napkin and secured with a bandage (for example, using a first aid kit) to protect the wound from dust and possible microbial contamination. If you do not have a sterile dressing at hand, use an ordinary dry cloth, which, if possible, should be ironed (and thus disinfected the victim).

– It is necessary to stop bleeding as soon as possible (see section “Hemostasis”).

In emergencies there is an unwritten rule: stopping bleeding is more important than avoiding infection !!!

– When treating wounds, you should not at your own discretion use drugs such as powders, aerosols or oils, as this can make it difficult to access the wounds and also lead to the need for painful cleaning.

– If foreign bodies get into the wound, a doctor must remove them.

If a foreign body protrudes from the wound, it must be fixed before transporting the victim (see the Foreign Bodies section) with a bandage to the bandage.

– Wounds must receive medical treatment within the first 6 hours.

Recommendation 1:

In principle, even the smallest wound can lead to tetanus. This is why we strongly recommend that you vaccinate accordingly.

Recommendation 2:

With the exception of minor scratches and abrasions on the skin and cuts, wounds should be examined and treated by a doctor.

The purpose of first aid is to prevent further penetration of aggressive substances and microorganisms into the wound.

Abrasions and scratches on the skin.

Abrasions and scratches on the skin are formed when the skin is rubbed against a rough surface.

For example, this can happen when you fall.

This removes the surface layers of the skin tissue, at the same time damages the smallest blood vessels that are located in the papillary layer of the skin. The result is pinpoint bleeding and exudation.

Large abrasions and scratches on the skin are accompanied by very painful sensations, since a large number of nerve endings are exposed. If pathogens enter the wound and infect it, it may be difficult to heal the wound.

In general, abrasions and scrapes on the skin heal rather quickly and do not leave scars, as the subcutaneous tissue remains intact.

In the case of small and only slightly soiled wounds, it is enough to rinse them under tap water, perform an antiseptic treatment and apply a non-sticking adhesive bandage.

In case of more contaminated wounds, they need to be washed more thoroughly.

Depending on the location and size of the wound, there are several ways to do this. For wounds on the hand, fingers or feet, an antiseptic bath is a good result. If you have bruises or scrapes on your knee, elbow, or torso, we recommend that you gently apply a damp gauze bandage or cloth to the wound.After you’ve dried the wound, you can start antiseptic treatment.

Conventional dressings tend to adhere to bleeding abrasions and scrapes on the skin. In this case, it is preferable to use dressings and plasters that will not stick to the wound. Such (atraumatic) dressings should be changed daily whenever possible.

Modern wound dressings, better suited for first aid due to their hydroactive properties, create and maintain a moist environment on the wound surface.As a result, they actively contribute to the healing process. In this case, there is no need to change the patch every day. You save time and pain.

In case of large (palm-sized) tissue injuries or heavily soiled abrasions or scratches on the skin, you need to see a doctor who will remove the remnants of dirt or foreign bodies from the wound and perform an antiseptic treatment.

Cuts

Cut the phalanx of the finger.

At home, cuts are most often caused by careless handling of sharp objects such as knives or glass shards.

These cuts are characterized by smooth wound edges, without damage to adjacent skin areas, and fairly heavy bleeding.

It often looks very dangerous, but as a result of bleeding from the wound, the remnants of dirt and pathogens are washed out. Therefore, small wounds usually heal without any problem.Cuts with a knife, which previously cut meat, pose a great threat, since a large number of pathogenic microorganisms accumulate on the knife.

Deep cuts in the joints and fingers are just as dangerous. In these cases, there is a risk of damage to nerve fibers or tendons.

Small surface cuts:

– Do not stop bleeding immediately to wash away any remaining dirt and pathogens.

– Perform antiseptic treatment of the wound.
– Apply a suitable, preferably bactericidal plaster to the wound.

– Stop excessive bleeding with external compression.

To do this, apply a folded gauze bandage or rolled gauze bandage to the wound and hold firmly for a while.

Machining larger and deeper cuts:

– Be sure to go to the doctor’s appointment!

– Cuts in the fingers that are accompanied by numbness and difficulty moving should also be examined by a doctor.Cuts with a knife or other sharp objects that used to cut meat also require a doctor’s examination.

– For cuts on the face, you also need to see a doctor to prevent scarring.

As a rule, cuts are fairly easy to heal. Often there is no need to even suture. Instead, the doctor uses special adhesive strips to tighten the wound.

Stab wounds

Puncture wounds may be inflicted with sharp glass and contain shards of glass.

Puncture wounds are inflicted with objects with sharp edges. Small puncture wounds that we often encounter in our daily life are usually caused by nails, needles, scissors, knives or pieces of broken glass.

Sometimes the source of the puncture wound remains in the wound itself.

It must be removed during first aid, or later during a visit to the doctor.

From the outside, puncture wounds usually look fairly harmless, but they can be quite deep.

When a puncture wound is received, there is a risk of damage to nerve fibers and tendons, as well as internal organs. It can also be accompanied by internal bleeding. There is also an increased risk of infection, even with minor puncture wounds, such as those caused by thorns or splinters, since pathogens enter the tissues along with a foreign body.

Remove small splinters stuck under the skin with tweezers. Then disinfect the wound and apply a patch or sterile wound dressing.

Foreign bodies and splinters should not be removed on your own if you are unable to determine how deeply they have penetrated the skin. Blood vessels can be damaged and bleeding can be caused.

As a first aid measure, you can wrap the wound area with foreign bodies trapped in it with a clean cloth.

With the exception of minor splinters, see a doctor immediately for other wounds.

You should see a doctor if you have not been able to completely remove a splinter, or if you have tissue inflammation.
Since the remnants of the foreign body can then be localized using X-rays, take the pieces of this foreign body with you to show them to the doctor.

Crushed wounds, lacerations and gaping wounds.

Crushed and gaping wounds are usually inflicted with blunt objects, while lacerations are inflicted with non-standard sharp objects.

Gaping wounds usually form on parts of the body with a minimum distance from the skin to the bones, such as the head or tibia.

Crushed, lacerated and gaping wounds usually have ragged edges rather than straight edges. In places of such wounds, as a rule, the skin changes its color and a hematoma forms. It is caused by hemorrhage in adjacent tissues. In the case of lacerations, adjacent tissues are usually not damaged as much.

All three types of wounds have one thing in common:

high risk of infection through the torn edges of the wound. The risk of infection is higher for lacerations, as the objects used to inflict these wounds are usually heavily contaminated.

The treatment and treatment of all characteristic, more or less serious, crushed and gaping wounds should be carried out by a doctor. Only small superficial crushed and gaping wounds, or not too lacerated wounds can be treated independently. Perform an antiseptic treatment of the wound and apply a bactericidal patch.

Bite wounds

Animal bites are associated with a high risk to human health.

Not only serious soft tissue damage can result.The bite can be accompanied by the ingress of highly pathogenic microorganisms along with the animal’s saliva.

In places where rabid animals have appeared (as warned by official sources of information), there is an increased risk of being bitten by a dog, less often a cat. Most often, wild animals suffer from rabies, especially foxes and badgers, which people can fearlessly admit to themselves. Not every bite from a rabid animal automatically means that the bitten person will become infected with rabies.If this nevertheless happened, and if the necessary measures are not taken, the person develops the following symptoms: irresistible convulsions and suffocation.

Animal bite wounds and bite wounds from other people should only be treated and treated by a physician.

As a first aid, you can apply a sterile gauze bandage to stop the bleeding.

If heavy bleeding is observed, a pressure bandage may be used.

Apply a sterile gauze bandage to the wound and secure it with a gauze bandage.Then apply a standard first aid bandage over the gauze bandage, applying a certain amount of force. If necessary, once again wrap the applied bandages with gauze.

With a few exceptions (bites to the baby’s face), these bite wounds are not stitched. They are treated with antiseptics in an open form. Your doctor will decide for himself which treatments are most appropriate. You should also talk with your doctor about the risk of contracting rabies and the need for appropriate vaccinations.

If you are bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies, you should get vaccinated immediately. In principle, preventive antibiotic treatment can be given, and if protection against tetanus is inadequate, appropriate vaccination should be obtained.

Children are much more susceptible to bites from rabid animals, since they are not yet able to adequately assess the behavior of the animal. As a result, when they get close to an animal, children often forget that it can bite or scratch.Therefore, adults are obliged to teach their children the rules of behavior in the presence of animals.

Signs of wound inflammation

How do you know if the wound is inflamed?

When pathogens enter the wound, inflammation begins.

The inflammation that began in the wound is indicated by the following:

redness, swelling, fever and pain.

To be more precise, the characteristic signs of wound inflammation are as follows:

– the edges of the wound swell and thicken;

– the area around the wound begins to gradually turn red and inflamed;

– a yellow or purulent plaque forms on the wound;

– pressure on the wound becomes more and more painful;

– sometimes it comes to fever and chills.

A wound infection may not spread beyond the wound itself. However, it can go to deep-lying tissues and lymphatic vessels.

When an inflammatory reaction occurs in the lymphatic vessels, a red streak forms around the wound. On the arm, it can spread to the armpit, and on the leg, it can reach the groin area. In common parlance, this infection is mistakenly called blood poisoning. However, the correct name for this process is inflammation of the lymphatic vessels (lymphangitis) or nodes (lymphadenitis), that is, inflammation of one or more lymphatic vessels caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the lymphatic capillaries.This process can regress under the influence of drug treatment. If such an injury or injury occurs, the greatest care must be taken to properly treat the resulting wound. Choosing the right treatment will help you avoid getting an infection.

If in doubt about the action to be taken, seek the advice of your doctor.

Addresses of Paul Hartmann Consulting Centers:

1.Izhevsk, st. Kirov, 109, tel. (3412) 43-00-55

Working hours: 8.00 – 23.00 without lunch and days off

2. Izhevsk, st. Likhvintseva, 46, tel. (3412) 52-44-79

Working hours: 8.00 – 24.00 without lunch and days off

Back to section

Soft tissue wounds: Causes and treatment

What are soft tissue wounds?

Soft tissue injuries include injuries to the skin, mucous membrane, deep-lying tissues (subcutaneous tissue, muscles, etc.)), as well as tendons, blood vessels and nerves. As a result of a violation of the integrity of the skin, microbial contamination of the wound surface occurs, which can lead to the development of infection.

According to the damaging factor, wounds are divided into mechanical, thermal (burn) and chemical; on the weapon of injury – for wounds from blunt, sharp objects, guns and weapons, firearms and weapons; by the nature of the damage, wounds are classified into bruised, torn, combined, bitten, stabbed, cut, stab-cut, chopped, sawn, combined bullet, shot, fragmentation.

According to the depth of damage, superficial wounds are distinguished, located in various layers of the skin, and deep ones, passing in deep-lying tissues. Wounds of internal organs and joints, communicating with the external environment by the wound channel, are called open, and wounds, the wound channels of which pass through the cavities or ending in them, are called penetrating wounds. Wounds of internal organs that do not communicate with the external environment are classified as closed.

Reasons

Cut wounds result from the direct impact of sharp weapons on the surface of the skin.

Chopped wounds form when a sharp weapon is lowered onto the skin at an angle.

Puncture wounds are the result of deep penetration of a sharp, thin instrument. Possible injury to cavities or joints.

Contusible wounds occur when a part of the body comes into contact with a rigid obstacle and there is a solid support in the form of the bones of the skull or other bone.

Crushed, crushed wounds are formed as a result of the impact of a blunt tool with a wide surface when opposed to a solid support.

Bitten wounds. As a result of a bite by an animal or a person, highly virulent pathogens of wound infections can enter the wound.

Symptoms

A closed injury can be suspected by knowing the mechanism of the injury (for example, a blow with a blunt object) and in the presence of one or more signs: bruising, swelling, pain.
Some indications suggest the nature of the injury. For example, swelling and deformity can mean a closed fracture. A bruise on the head, bloody discharge from the nose, ears and mouth – possible injury to the cervical spine or brain.Bruises on the chest, deformation, violation of symmetry – possible injury to the chest with damage to the ribs and sternum. Breathing problems may indicate a lung injury. Large bruises on the abdomen – possible injury to an internal organ.

Wound signs vary depending on the type and depth of tissue damage. As a rule, any damage accompanies pain, possibly a violation of the integrity of the skin, as well as bleeding.

Diagnostics

For small superficial wounds that are not accompanied by general symptoms, the diagnosis is made on the basis of the clinical picture.A detailed study is carried out during the primary treatment of the wound. With extensive and deep wounds with a violation of the general condition, additional studies are needed, the list of which is determined taking into account the localization of the damage. In case of injuries in the chest area, a chest X-ray is prescribed, in case of abdominal injuries – an abdominal X-ray, ultrasound or laparoscopy, etc. If you suspect a violation of the integrity of blood vessels and nerves, consultation of a neurosurgeon and a vascular surgeon is required.

Treatment

First aid consists in the primary surgical treatment of the wound, during which foreign bodies are removed from the wound, bleeding stops, the wound is washed with antiseptics, and non-viable tissues are excised. The issue of the prevention of tetanus and rabies (if the wound is bitten) is also resolved. Wounds with a pronounced inflammatory process are not sutured, they are drained. The infected wound heals by secondary intention. Dressings and drainage changes are performed daily.General treatment consists of anti-inflammatory therapy, the introduction of hemostatic agents, pain relievers.

In case of profuse blood loss, the issue of replenishing the volume of circulating blood (BCC) is resolved, blood substitutes and blood components are introduced. Subsequently, with severe cicatricial contractures and deformities, a restorative operation can be repeated.

Most often, superficial wounds do not bleed much. Therefore, help consists in bandaging the wound. Before this procedure, the edges are smeared with an antiseptic, making sure that it does not get into the wound.

The wound is covered with a sterile napkin and bandaged. If the edges of the wound are widely separated, before applying the bandages, they should be brought closer together (but not until they are closed) and in this position fixed with 2-3 strips of adhesive plaster.

Do not rinse the wound with water (risk of infection), alcohol or iodine tincture. The disinfectant solution, getting into the wound, causes the death of damaged cells, and also causes significant pain. Do not put any ointment on the wound, and also put cotton wool directly into the wound.

Vitamin therapy should not be forgotten. Vitamin deficiency dramatically slows down the reparative (restorative) processes.

To accelerate wound healing, proper nutrition of patients is important, especially those who have undergone traumatic shock, severe infection or major surgery. They need a complete diet with increased amounts of protein and vitamins. Physiotherapy is indicated primarily for purulent wounds of the upper extremities. Physiotherapeutic procedures play an important role: UFO, UHF, etc.

How to treat a puncture wound of the foot

With the onset of summer, each of us strives to relax in nature, work in a garden plot, walk barefoot on the grass, swim in a pond, and do construction work. Often, these pleasant chores can end with a seemingly harmless injury – a stab wound to the plantar surface of the foot, when the skin and the tissues underneath are pierced with a relatively long and thin object that does not leave a large, noticeable wound – a nail, needle, wire, glass, wood chips …A puncture wound in the foot is usually not accompanied by profuse bleeding, but this does not mean that it will heal without treatment. In addition, in such a situation, there is a very high risk of developing serious purulent-septic complications – abscess, phlegmon, osteomyelitis. Therefore, any puncture wound of the foot should undergo methodical treatment and prevention of possible complications under the supervision of a physician.

The puncture wound has smooth edges, the skin defect is usually represented by a puncture hole, while its depth is very significant, and the wound channel is narrow.The thick and partially keratinized skin of the sole, especially the heel, prevents the outflow of the wound discharge. These prerequisites create the most favorable conditions for the development of microorganisms, the most dangerous of which are anaerobes and tetanus living in soil fertilized with manure, garden soil. In this regard, people who have not been vaccinated against tetanus or who were vaccinated more than ten years ago require special control. In some cases, fragments of the wounding object remain deep in the wound, but you should not try to remove the foreign body yourself.Glass and metal are usually clearly visible on radiographs, therefore, an X-ray examination is justified in almost any puncture wound.

In the first few days after an injury, a person may experience pain in the foot, which increases when walking. Against the background of correct and timely treatment, pain passes or decreases, and the wound heals within a week. If the pain persists and even intensifies, is twitching, there is swelling and redness around the site of injury, pus or ichor is released from the wound, you should immediately consult a surgeon! Perhaps serious medical attention will be required for treatment: surgery, intensive anti-inflammatory therapy.

Any victim with a puncture wound to the foot needs first aid, which is aimed at preventing secondary infection and stopping bleeding. To do this, follow these guidelines:

do not touch the wound without washing your hands thoroughly;

Stop bleeding by pressing the wound with a gauze pad or bandage;

after 10 – 15 minutes, rinse your foot thoroughly with clean cold water, and if the contamination is strong, then with soapy water;

do not try to pull out a foreign body from the wound yourself – it can enter the wound even deeper;

treat the edges of the wound with an antiseptic – a solution of iodine or brilliant green;

do not put medications, powders, ointments into the wound;

Apply an aseptic dressing to the wound to protect it from re-contamination and infection;

Apply ice to the wound to reduce pain and swelling;

Do not wet the wound until it heals.

Have a pleasant and, most importantly, safe rest for you!

Vladimir KHRYSHCHANOVICH, Candidate of Medical Sciences.

Soviet Belarus № 133 (24763). Thursday, 16 July 2015

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90,000 Treatment of wounds in a child – blog of the ON Clinic medical center

What to do if a child has a wound, how to treat it and when to go to the doctor – we will tell you in this article.

Childhood is a time of curiosity, accompanied by injuries, falls, abrasions and wounds. Some of the wounds are harmless and require routine home treatment, while others require serious treatment.

What are the types of wounds

A wound is tissue damage that is characterized by a violation of the integrity of the skin or mucous membranes. The wound is accompanied by pain and bleeding.

The first sign is pain. It occurs due to damage to local nerve endings, later due to edema, which presses on the nerve and irritates it.In this case, pain can spread not only along the surface of the wound, but also along the damaged nerve.

The second mandatory sign of a wound is bleeding. It occurs as a result of damage to capillaries, veins, or arteries. Bleeding can be mild and drip, for example, with a small cut, and severe when the integrity of the vein and artery is damaged.

The third sign of a wound is a gaping hole. However, gaping appears only with deep wounds, for example, with abrasions it is not. Gaping – the divergence of the edges of the wound on the sides of the axis of the cut.With severe dehiscence, the wound is usually sutured.

There are many types of wounds. For a person in a domestic environment, it is necessary to know several classifications. The first is based on whether there is an infection in the wound. Wounds can be aseptic, contaminated, and infected.

Aseptic wound is a clean injury to the skin. Usually these are surgical wounds that are performed in order to penetrate the internal organs. Children are most likely to develop contaminated wounds.This means that germs have entered the area of ​​skin damage. At first, these are relatively harmless wounds: local defense mechanisms inhibit the development of microorganisms. If you do not treat a contaminated wound, it becomes infected: an infectious process develops, which is accompanied by inflammation, severe pain and suppuration. An infected wound can cause a strong reaction in the child’s body: the body temperature rises, chills, drowsiness and apathy appear.

By the nature of the damage, there are the following wounds:

• stabs – they occur when punctured with a narrow and stabbing object, for example, when a child falls on a nail.The puncture wound usually bleeds mildly and hurts. Outwardly, it may seem that this is a safe wound, but this is not so: often large vessels, nerves are damaged, and even an infection is brought in;
• cut – occur on contact with a sharp oblong object: a knife, razor, sharp scissors, glass shard and paper. With a cut wound, tissue is usually slightly damaged. The wound bleeds profusely, pains moderately;
• Chopped wounds are caused by a heavy sharp object such as an ax.Usually the bleeding is moderate, but the wound is very sore and gaping. May lead to serious condition;
• A bruised wound appears when struck with a blunt object or falling on the asphalt. Most often, the bruised wound is located on the head, elbows and knees. The edges of the wound when bruised are uneven, soaked in blood. Bleeds slightly and pains moderately.

There are also bite wounds that occur when bitten by animals or other children. The difficulty with this wound is that in most cases it contains an infection from the animal’s mouth.Thus, rabies, insect and snake venom, putrefactive infection are transmitted.

The wound process consists of several stages:

1. In the first seconds after skin damage, local vessels reflexively narrow and biologically active substances are produced – platelets, which adhere to the wound area and close the damaged vessel. The blood clotting system turns on, which stops bleeding. In a healthy child, bleeding stops on its own within 15 minutes.
2. Inflammation. Lasts 3 days from the moment of injury. The inflammation is manifested by pain, redness, and localized fever. Also, swelling in the form of a tumor appears on the wound within two hours.
3. After 2–4 hours after injury, leukocytes migrate to the damaged area. They absorb foreign particles and cleanse the wound from microorganisms.
4. Healing phase. Begins 3-5 days after injury. Bioactive substances arrive at the damaged tissues, which restore the tissue of blood vessels and skin.
5. Epithelialization phase. Begins 2 weeks after injury. The wound mark becomes pale, a scar is formed. The epithelialization phase can be delayed if bacteria are present in the wound.

Algorithm for treating wounds

What to do if a child has fallen, cut or hit:

1. Make sure you are safe: you drive the dog away, remove the knife, turn off the chainsaw, remove the glass shards.
2. Usually, in a situation of injury, the child is frightened: by pain or the fact of a cut.Calm him down and tell him that nothing terrible happened. Make him feel protected.
3. Before handling a wound, wash your hands first with soap and water.
4. Remove clothing from the injured area: roll up the sleeve of your shirt, lift your shirt or trouser leg. Examine the wound. Try not to touch the wound with dirty hands.
5. If the capillaries are damaged, bleeding is insignificant. Rinse the wound with warm water, apply hydrogen peroxide and bandage with a gauze bandage.
6. Gently clean the wound from debris and dirt under warm water.To do this, use cotton swabs or gauze soaked in disinfectant.
7. Disinfect the wound. Usually at home there is always an alcoholic solution of iodine, cologne, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or spirits. Dilute the alcohol with water so as not to burn the wound. If the wound is large, alcohol and iodine cannot be used, they will lead to chemical burns and the wound will heal more slowly.
8. Apply sterile material to the wound and bandage it. You need to bandage so that the bandage covers the wound site.It shouldn’t be too tight or too soft.

What to do if your child is bleeding heavily:

1. Assess the severity of the bleeding. If the wound bleeds heavily with dark or scarlet blood, beats with a stream, and the ejection of blood is synchronous with the heartbeats, the bleeding must be stopped at all costs.
2. Call an ambulance. One person provides first aid, the second calls the team. Please note that if the wound is penetrating, that is, a screwdriver or knife is stuck into the body, you cannot remove the object yourself.Be sure to wait for an ambulance.
3. Find a tissue or other tissue in your bag or medicine cabinet that you can apply to the wound.
4. If the limb is injured, lay the child on his back and lift the injured limb above the level of the heart, bend them at the elbow or knee. This is temporarily uncomfortable, but slows down the blood flow.
5. Apply harness. If not, use a belt, tie, brace, or wire. You need to put a napkin or cloth under the tourniquet so as not to injure the skin.For arterial bleeding, a tourniquet is applied above the wound site; for venous bleeding, a pressure bandage is applied to the wound. Mark the time of application of the tourniquet, write it down with a pen or felt-tip pen (but not red) on the skin near the tourniquet. Remember that in summer the maximum application time of the tourniquet is 90 minutes, in winter – 60 minutes. If after this time the ambulance has not arrived, and you have not yet reached the hospital, carefully loosen the tourniquet so that the tissues of the limb receive blood, while pressing the bleeding site with gauze.If the dressing is soaked in blood, re-clamp the tourniquet until the blood stops completely and record the new time on the skin.

It is not recommended to give your child pain relievers. This interferes with the fact that each drug has an expiration date and doctors need to recalculate the dose of a new pain reliever or wait for the previous one to end in order to avoid an overdose. But if pain relief is indispensable, write down the time and name of the drug you gave your child. Save empty vials of medication and give them to the ambulance team so they know what you gave to the victim.

Treating abrasions in children

How to properly treat abrasions in children:

1. Wash your hands.
2. Clean the skin around the wound to remove dirt, dust, debris and other objects.
3. Disinfect the wound: the abrasion can be treated with the following means: ointment with zinc oxide, cream with benzalkonium chloride, cream with dexpanthenol, chlorhexidine, methyl blue, hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green and 5% iodine solution.
4. Usually mild capillary bleeding occurs with abrasions.It is enough to apply a dry cloth or gauze to the damaged skin.

What to do if the wound does not heal for a long time

The wound may not heal for a long time. This is due to several factors: the skin after injury is not cleaned, blood flow is complicated due to inflammation, or the regeneration mechanism is impaired. Because of this, complications arise:

• seroma is an accumulation of inflammatory fluid (exudate) in the wound cavity. Most often, seromas occur if dirt, microorganisms or foreign bodies remain in the wound;
• Wound hematoma.It appears due to the fact that after the injury, the bleeding did not stop completely, and the drops of blood gradually soaked the surrounding tissue. Also, hematomas occur due to diseases in which blood clotting is impaired;
• Soft tissue necrosis. It occurs due to severe and massive tissue damage or cutting of blood vessels. Early signs of necrosis: in the first days after injury, the skin is pale, bluish and cold to the touch;
• Malignancy is a process when cells in a tissue acquire signs of a tumor.Malignancy occurs with a chronically non-healing wound.

In addition, the wound may not heal for a long time with poor immunity, diabetes mellitus, long-term intake of glucocorticoids and vitamin deficiency. The only correct option is to consult a surgeon: at home it is impossible to assess the condition of the wound and provide the correct medical care.

When to see a doctor

To protect your child from complications, you need to know in what situations to see a doctor:

• if after 15 minutes the wound has not stopped bleeding even when applying a pressure bandage;
• if outside the wound the skin begins to grow numb, cool, acquire a pale or bluish tint;
• if you are not sure that the wound is completely cleaned of debris, rust, dirt and other foreign objects;
• if the injury occurred in the neck;
• if the child has been bitten by an animal;
• The wound does not heal within 10 days.

Alarming signs also include: an increase in the child’s body temperature, an increase in edema, increased pain, a burning sensation and severe reddening of the wound.

A wound is tissue damage that needs first aid. However, if you treat the wound according to the algorithm, after 10-15 minutes the blood stops, and by the end of the day or the next day, the pain goes away. The main thing when a child is injured is not to succumb to emotions, calm the child, act quickly and call an ambulance or see a doctor.

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the wound is shallow – Translation into Russian – examples English

These examples may contain rude words based on your search.

These examples may contain colloquial words based on your search.

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Look… the wounds are too shallow to penetrate the rib cage.

The stab wounds are both shallow and deep.

But some other wounds are shallow , from an instrument with a narrow, hooked end.

Numerous shallow wounds until Wayne was able to inflict this… the fatal wound .

Multiple shallow stab wounds to the abdomen.

At key points, there are shallow puncture wounds …

Multiple shallow stab wounds to the abdomen.

According to the file, Andrew Jimenez had a shallow penetrating wound of approximately two inches.

The file says that the depth of of Andrew Jimenez’s wound is approximately 5 centimeters.

The wound is circular again, almost surgical.

Incision is circular … and again almost surgical.

And yet the area where the drain exits the wound is swollen.

They’re saying the wound is mostly psychological.

They say that trauma in is more psychological.

The wound is being cleaned, but Montreal would need its own investigative unit with ongoing monitoring, to avoid the return of these questionable practices.

We are in the process of cleaning the wound, but Montreal will need its own investigation team and observer to avoid the return of questionable practices.

The sword will enter and exit the body avoiding all vital organs, so the wound is deep but not fatal.

If my sword hits a certain point, then is will not be fatal.

Just do it really fast, and then the wound is exposed.

Luckily the wound is n’t deep.

But I didn’t anticipate that the wound is this deep

The wounds are cleaved but very shallow .

You’d think knife, but the circumference of the wound is unusually wide, like it was a … fat knife.

You might think that this is a knife, but the edges of the wound are too wide , as if it were … a thick knife.

The beach of El Supi is shallow , protected by reefs from high waves.

His breathing is shallow , and he’s getting cold.

Barely breathes , he himself becomes cold.

90,000 Wound treatment in cats – articles on veterinary medicine “Svoy Doctor”

Skin lesions in cats are often a problem for their owners. Firstly, it is not always possible to clearly diagnose the type of wound at home, and secondly, the damage is often accompanied by the introduction of pathogenic microflora and inflammation into it, which is almost impossible to stop without the help of a specialist.

Treating wounds in cats at home is not as easy as it sounds. Remember that self-medication without proper qualifications is not at all an option, so it is better to consult a veterinarian to determine the severity of the damage and further treatment. But if there is no opportunity to get an appointment at a veterinary clinic in the near future, then we can, as first aid, perform a number of simple manipulations.

The first thing to do is to clean and disinfect the wound area.Gently trim the hair around the cut or bite, avoiding the wound as much as possible. If the bleeding from the wound has not stopped, then apply a tourniquet on the limb – for venous bleeding (blood is dark red, slowly pulsating), the tourniquet is applied below the wound, for arterial bleeding (blood is bright red, beats with a stream), apply a tourniquet above the wound. Record the time of setting the tourniquet: within 2 hours, the animal must be delivered to the veterinary clinic for surgical treatment of the wound. In case of capillary bleeding, use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution for treatment, which has exclusively hemostatic (non-disinfecting) properties, a hemostatic sponge or an ice pack.

After that, treat the wound and the surface around it with a disinfectant solution, for example, chlorhexidine solution 0.05%, furacilin solution (dissolve 1 tablet in 150 ml of boiled water), dioxidine solution 0.5%. Do not use alcohol-containing disinfectants (iodine, green stuff) recommended: alcohol will cause a burning sensation in the damaged area, which will cause severe discomfort to the animal. They can only be applied around the damaged area.

After treatment, the wound must be isolated from the external environment.For this, a sterile napkin or a tampon made of a sterile bandage fixed on the surface around the wound is suitable. The best option would be the special HARTMANN Cosmopor dressing or the HARTMANN Sorbalgon dressing. It is not recommended to use cotton pads or cotton pads to protect the wound: fibers can adhere to damaged tissues, which will cause pain and discomfort for the animal during dressing changes.

Unfortunately, most bites, cuts, bruises and other wounds come with complications.For example, deep cuts, in addition to concomitant inflammation, heal very slowly without surgery. Bite wounds can be accompanied by the formation of so-called “pockets” in the area of ​​damage, which rarely heal without the intervention of a veterinarian. It is highly undesirable to treat such wounds on your own. We also remind you that it is necessary to vaccinate your pet annually against rabies, a deadly disease that is transmitted by bites from a sick animal to a healthy one.Because of the possible complications , the treatment of wounds in cats requires special attention and therefore it would be best to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible for qualified assistance.

90,000 Abscess abscess, purulent inflammation in cats

Abscess (abscess) – inflammation with the formation of a purulent cavity on the body of the cat.

The cause of occurrence is the presence of small wounds and bites. Through damage in the skin, streptococci and staphylococci enter the body, which actively multiply inside the skin.Pathology does not pose a big threat, it is easy to get rid of it with timely prescribed treatment.

When bacteria enter the body, the immune system begins to actively fight them, pus forms under the skin. A healthy pet’s body can cope with inflammation on its own, otherwise an abscess occurs.

Two forms of the disease are common:

1. Dental abscess. It occurs in the presence of advanced periodontal disease, localized in the area of ​​the tooth roots.
2. Fighting abscess. It manifests itself in the presence of skin injuries as a result of fights, in the event of their further infection. On the teeth and in the oral cavity, the animal contains a large number of pathogenic bacteria, during the bite, a puncture wound is formed and they freely penetrate under the skin of the pet.

Signs of illness

An abscess is a swollen bump that is hot and soft to the touch. The most common places of localization are ears, head, neck and limbs.Abscesses can form in body cavities, such as at the base of the teeth. An abscess can be closed and open, in the second case, the inflamed area secretes pus and blood, an unpleasant odor and scabs appear.

In the presence of purulent inflammation, the cat may have a fever, lethargy, irritability are observed. In most cases, the cat does not allow touching the inflammation, since this is accompanied by pain. Lesions on the paws cause lameness. A dental abscess causes a complete refusal to eat.

Risk group

The main reason for the appearance of an abscess is the free walking of the pet on the street. Your pet may meet an aggressive animal or attack another cat itself, resulting in scratches and wounds that cause abscesses. At the same time, non-neutered cats often come into conflicts, the chance of their infection is much higher.

Cats and neutered cats are not excluded from the risk group, but the chance of developing an abscess is much lower.Since they are calmer and by their nature they are practically not aggressive. For prevention purposes, it is worth limiting access to the street. If you think your pet needs a walk, use a harness with a leash and have it in check.

In the risk group, males always remain in the age range from one to seven years. During this period, cats are more energetic and more likely to enter into conflicts. At the same time, aggressive behavior can be observed both on the street and at home.

The likelihood of getting the disease increases if another cat is brought into the house.Depending on the nature of an already living pet, conflict situations may arise between them.

Diagnostics

The presence of an abscess in a cat is determined by external examination. Palpation allows you to accurately determine the area of ​​inflammation and borders. On the inflamed area, hair is cut, quite often there you can see traces of previously inflicted damage to the pet.

In some cases, a fluid sample is taken from the site of infection to identify a variety of bacteria.The disease at an early stage is not always possible to detect at the initial examination; additional visits to the doctor are often required.

Treatment

The method of treatment depends on the state of the inflammatory process. In the first stages, a penicillin-novocaine blockade is prescribed, treatment is carried out with warming compresses and the introduction of streptocides to combat the source of infection. A ripe abscess is incised with a scalpel to remove purulent discharge. An open wound is washed with antiseptics and an antimicrobial ointment is placed in the cavity.

In cases of deep, large abscess, the washed wound is sutured and drainage tubes inserted. The newly formed pus is removed through them and antiseptics are injected. As the area of ​​inflammation decreases, the tubules are removed. At the time of treatment, a course of pain relievers is prescribed. Almost always, the cat is dressed in a tapered collar to avoid scratching the wound.
If it is not possible to show the cat to a specialist, you can carry out the treatment yourself. Excluding neglected cases or increased pet temperature.A heating pad or warm compress is used to ripen the abscess. A ripe abscess must be opened and pus removed with sterile napkins. The wound is washed with hydrogen peroxide or furacilin, a bandage is applied with Vishnevsky’s ointment. The area of ​​inflammation must be washed and a new bandage applied every day until complete healing. It is recommended that you contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Prophylaxis for Fighting Pet Owners

Cats with a heavy and groovy temperament are always at risk.They most often receive serious damage from opponents and earn themselves an abscess. A more serious consequence of the disease can be the appearance of feline AIDS. Such pets need preventive medical examinations from a specialist.
It is worth remembering that an animal with a history of inflammation is much more likely to be infected again. The best prevention would be to restrict the pet walking on the street. Neutered and neutered individuals are less aggressive towards their relatives.

Purulent inflammation of the paraanal gland

An abscess may appear in the anus, which is associated with the presence of paraanal glands.The functions of these glands are to leave marks on the territory, scare off enemies and attract individuals of the opposite sex. They accumulate a liquid (secret) of a thick consistency with a pungent odor. In a healthy pet, the secret comes out during the bowel movement, helps to soften the feces, thereby facilitating the whole process.

Excess and stagnation of fluid in the anal sacs leads to their blockage, which further contributes to the appearance of bacteria and harmful microorganisms. If the paraanal glands are not cleared in time, an abscess occurs.The reason for this process can be several factors: overweight, low physical activity, some features of purebred cats. The presence of inflammation is accompanied by restless behavior of the cat – frequent licking of the anus. It is important to consult a specialist in time, if a purulent abscess breaks through, a fistula will appear. This condition is dangerous and can lead to the death of the pet.
It is important to remember that self-medication is very dangerous, be sure to contact a specialist.