Wound Care

All of us have experienced being scraped or cut sometime or the other in our lives. And likewise, we know that wounds can be of different types, and thus require different kinds of treatment, according to what caused them and how shallow or deep they may be. As soon as there is an injury, it results in setting off a series of events, leading to the healing process of the wound. Proper wound care is required in order to reduce the chances of the injury getting infected as well as the area getting scarred. However, apart from bone, there is a certain amount of scarring takes place during the healing process of any injured tissue.

The Various Types of Wounds

Abrasion: These are wounds that affect just the surface of the skin, with the deeper layers of the skin remaining intact. The bleeding in this kind of wound is usually a small ooze. Scrape or abrasion wounds usually are caused when the skin rubs or scrapes against any rough surface.

Gash or Cut: This is a deeper type of wound going right through into the deeper tissues and the layer of fat. There may be more severe bleeding. Cuts or gashes can be caused by a sharp object cutting deep into the skin and underlying tissue, or due to falling on a hard surface, or being struck severely with a blunt object.

Pierce Wounds: This is also a deep wound usually caused by a sharp object puncturing through the skin, such as a knife stab, or putting your foot on a nail, or having a needle stuck into any part of the body. This type of wound does not bleed much usually, and if fact could hardly be noticeable.

Bites by Animals: or Humans: These wounds can be classified as cuts or pierce wounds, or both the types combined. Extra care is required for this kind of wound, since there is the contamination by saliva to contend with.

What are the Wound Care Measures to be Taken?

Wound Care at Home

Usually, abrasions and scrapes do not need any other care apart from washing the wound about four times a day in the first two days, and using a sterilized bandage to cover the wound. However, medical attention will be required for bites and more serious wounds. First of all the bleeding has to be stopped. In case it does not, a sterilized bandage should be applied to the affected area and pressed down firmly for about ten minutes.

Next the wound will have to be cleaned, which can be done by washing it out with water. The wounded area can be held under a running a faucet or a shower nozzle used to wash the wound, which should be done for about 10-15 minutes, making sure that all the debris and dirt is cleared.

Then, you need to check when it was that you had your last tetanus shot. In case the wound was grimy, a tetanus shot should be taken within 48 hours of the injury, and if it has been over five years since you had your last one.

When to Seek Medical Attention for a Wound

Usually doctors do not attempt to suture a laceration if it is over 8 to 12 hours old, since the chances of infection increases after that time. As a matter of fact, the risk of infection starts increasing after just three hours. Hence, if you have a serious wound, it is best to get medical attention as soon as possible. Open wounds take a longer time to heal and results in a larger scar.

You should call a doctor or go to a hospital if you have the following conditions:

• In case the wound still contains debris and dirt despite you best efforts of cleaning it. Or, if you feel that there could be some foreign material embedded in the wound, like rust, wound, or glass.
• Medical attention will be required for any cut or bite wound that is more than ½-inch in length, and deep tissue matter is visible, such as fat, muscle, or bone.
• In case there is yellow colored fluid draining from the wound or if there is redness spreading from the affected area even after two days.
• In case the wound bleeds in spurts along with each heartbeat, or if there is profuse bleeding, or if the bleeding continues for more than 10 minutes.
• If sensation is lost beyond the area of the wound, or if you are unable to move a toe or finger in the region of the wound.
• All bite wounds, whether from an animal or human.

The Treatment for the Wound

The doctor will first examine and then evaluate the wound, then clean it again.

Then, a local anesthetic may be used to numb the area, in order to examine it more thoroughly and repair it, so that the patient does not feel any more discomfort during the process. Although there may be pressure on it, no pain will be felt.

In case stitches are required, an antiseptic solution will be used to cleanse the wound and sterilized drapes or towels will be placed on the area, and then stitch up the lacerated edges by bringing them together.

Then, a sterilized bandage will be applied, and further instructions will be given about caring for the wound.

The bandage is usually kept on for about two days, and it should be kept dry and clean, while elevating the wounded area as much as possible in order to minimize the pain and swelling.

Nonprescription pain relieving medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen are usually enough to control any pain.

Once the stitches are removed, the area may be taped to protect the still healing wound.

Unless it is large, a bite wound is usually not stitched. Since the chances of infection are high, most physicians will leave such a wound open for daily care of the wound. Antibiotics are usually given for a bite wound.

A puncture wound will be examined thoroughly, and in case there is any debris or dirt in it, it may be removed in order to prevent infection.