What Are Open Wounds?
An open wound is a type of internal or external injury in the body tissue, exposed to harmful bacteria, increasing further risks of infection. These types of wounds are commonly caused by accidents with sharp or rough objects that cut through the skin. Though minor acute open wounds can be treated at home with medication and natural remedies, severe or deep cut open wounds require immediate medical attention under the supervision of wound care at the bedside, especially if there is a lot of bleeding or bleeding that lasts for more than 20 minutes.
What Are Different Types Of Open Wounds?
Just like any other injury, open wounds can be classified into different categories. Here are some types of open wounds:
- Abrasion - An abrasion is a type of injury that occurs when the skin rubs or slights against a hard or rough surface. For example, road rash. These types of injuries don’t bleed a lot but they do require immediate sanitization to scrub away any foreign substances like dirt, debris, and bacteria to prevent infection.
- Lacerations - A laceration is a deep or jagged cut in the skin that results in heavy bleeding. It usually occurs from accidents or incidents that involve knives, machinery, or other sharp objects. If a person has suffered a laceration, immediate treatment is required by Bedside Care Specialist USA.
- Puncture- A puncture is a small hole in the body tissues caused by a long & pointy object such as a nail or needle etc. These wounds may not bleed too much but require proper medical attention, otherwise, the wounds can get contaminated. The doctors may recommend antibiotics or a tetanus shot.
- Avulsion- An Avulsion is a severe wound that can result in partial or complete tearing of the skin & tissues. They usually occur during fatal accidents such as car crashes, explosions, and other types of incidents that involve trauma. They heavily bleed and in some cases, it can also lead to the loss or dislocation of limbs.
- Incision- It is a clean & straight cut in the skin made by surgeons at the time of performing surgery on a patient. However, accidents also cause incisions that involve knives, broken glass, or other sharp objects.
What If An Open Wound Gets Infected?
If a deep cut open wound is left untreated or treated improperly, it can lead to an infection. Here are the symptoms of wound infection:
- Fever
- Malaise - It involves fatigue, lack of energy, and feeling of discomfort to the patient.
- Wound redness
- Swelling at the wound site
- Increased temperature near the wound site
- Body pain
- Vomiting
- Drainage and bad odor from the wound
Complications Of Wound Infection
Here are some of the compliments that may arise if an open wound gets infected:
- Cellulitis
- Sepsis
- Osteomyelitis
- Necrotizing fasciitis
- Tetanus infection
- Staph infection etc.
How To Treat Open Wounds?
Some wounds can be treated at home while some require immediate medical attention under the supervision of wound care at the bedside.
Treating Open Wounds At Home
Patients can treat minor wounds at home. It requires some steps to be followed:
- First, stop the bleeding using a clean gauze or bandage. Apply pressure on the wound site to promote blood clotting.
- Then, carefully clean & wash the wound with mild soap & water to scrub away any foreign substances like dirt or debris, etc. Once the wound is cleaned, pat it dry with a clean cloth. If the wound is too deep, the surgeons may be required to perform debridement to remove debris, dead tissue, glass, or other foreign objects from the site.
- After cleaning the wound, apply antiseptic ointment to protect it from infection.
- Then, the wound should be properly dressed with an appropriate type of dressing to promote faster healing. Determine if the wound requires stitches or staples.
- Don’t forget to change your dressing regularly. Also, check for the signs of infection.
When To See A Doctor?
The patient is required to contact bedside wound care California if:
- An open wound is deeper
- Heavy bleeding
- Bleeding lasts longer than 20 minutes
- The cause of injury is severe etc.
Medical Treatment For Open Wounds
There can be different techniques by the doctors to treat the open wound. After cleaning & numbing the area, the doctors may use skin glue, sutures, or stitches to close the wound. Tetanus shots may be given to the patient, if necessary.
Another treatment for open wounds includes pain medication for the patients. If the person is suffering from extreme pain or there are chances of developing an infection, the doctors may prescribe penicillin or another antibiotic. In some cases, surgery may also be required.
