Emergency Room: Go for Complex Lacerations

A Laceration is a deep cut or tears in the skin or flesh. Any injury caused by a sharp or blunt object on any part of the body can cause a laceration. A severe laceration is dangerous because it can extend through the full thickness of a person’s skin to the subcutaneous tissues. This includes the underlying muscles, bones, and internal organs; and can be accompanied by excessive bleeding.

Types of Lacerations

According to FrontLine ER, these are the most common types of lacerations:

•    Split Lacerations:  This type of lacerations occurs as a result of compression of the skin between the weapon and bone.  Split-lacerations can be as caused after a severe blow with a heavy blunt weapon on someone’s head, lateral, face, and hip, shin of the leg or the back of the elbow.

•    Torn lacerations: These types of lacerations are caused by a projecting surface of an object that is dragged over someone’s skin. Instances like road traffic accidents or machinery accidents.

•    Blast lacerations:  These are injuries which are caused by a local blast effect of expanding gases.

•    Perforated lacerations:  This is a deep cut that is caused by objects that can penetrate the skin. E.g., Shrapnel form explosions, and missiles or firearms.

•    Cut lacerations:  These are deep cuts that are as a result of blunted sharp weapons. Examples of cut lacerations include; blade of a mamoty and ice picks.

•    Stretch lacerations: Stretch lacerations are known to make the skin to stretch. They are as a result of a massive impact on a fixed area of the skin that is localized.

•    Crush lacerations: These are caused by a protruding bone fragment from a crush injury on the head.

•    De-gloved lacerations:  This laceration is as a result of grinding force over the body which results in the peeling off of the skin from underlying tissues. An example of a de-gloved laceration is a road traffic accident.

Abrasions vs. Cuts vs. Lacerations

If you experience major blood leakage, a notable opening or crooked edges of the wound, seek medical attention immediately Deep lacerations are highly exposed to bacteria and infection.

Signs and Symptoms of a Laceration

According to FrontLine ER, lacerations can be of many shapes and sizes. The open skin of a laceration may look similar to a cut, a tear or a gash. The wound caused by a laceration may hurt, bruise, bleed or swell. The bleeding of a laceration wound is dependent on the area where you have experienced the damage. For instance, the scalp or wrists may bleed a lot.  It is possible for a person who has a laceration wound to have edges that are wide apart or close together. Another sign of a laceration wound is the decreased movement in the area that is below the wound.

First Aid Treatment of a Laceration Wound

•    Pressure: By applying direct and steady pressure to the laceration wound, it can help to stop any bleeding

•    Wound cleaning: If you have any wound, it is essential to clean it. This is because cleaning helps remove any dirt or debris.  Apply antibiotic ointments if available to further reduce chances of infection. You can also put a sterile bandage or gauze on the area.

If the cut is bleeding profusely or blood is spurting out, and the first aid treatment isn’t working, rush to the emergency room. FrontLine ER  is fully equipped and is on standby 24 hours to cater to such kind of injuries.

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