Overview
An open wound is an injury involving an external or internal disruption of body tissue, usually involving the skin. Almost everyone will experience open damage at some point in their life. The majority of open wounds are small and manageable at home.
Falling, collisions with sharp objects and vehicle crashes are the most common causes of open wounds. In a serious accident, you should seek immediate medical attention. This is especially true if the bleeding is heavy or lasts longer than 20 minutes.
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Everyone gets bumps and scrapes growing up and playing, but even the most careful adults get hurt sometimes. Minor superficial wounds can be cleaned and treated at home, but more profound skin tears may require professional medical attention.
Home care nurses and therapists provide instruction at the patient’s home to assist patients and their caregivers with wound care and dressing changes. To ensure wound healing, we create a treatment plan with the doctor.
Open wounds, as contrast to closed injuries like bruises or closed fractures, entail a rupture in the skin that exposes the interior tissue. The skin is vital for protecting the organs, tissues, and other structures inside the body, so a break in the skin can potentially lead to infection.
Are there different types of open wounds?
Knowing the types of open wounds is essential for administering treatment – or knowing that you should seek treatment from a healthcare professional. Let’s discuss some of the most common open skin wound kinds and how to be treated if necessary.
4 types of open wounds are classified depending on their cause
Abrasion
When the skin slides or scrapes against a rough surface, abrasion happens. A scratched knee or rashes from the road are examples of bruises. Although abrasions produce very little blood, disinfecting the wound and removing debris is essential to prevent infection.
Laceration
A laceration is a large wound or skin rips. Lacerations usually occur in accidents or incidents involving knives, machines or other sharp instruments. Significant bleeding can occur from a wound of this nature.
Avulsion
Avulsion involves the forcible tearing away of the skin and underlying tissue.
Violent events like explosions, animal assaults, or car accidents can lead to avulsions.
Puncture
A puncture wound is a small opening in soft tissue. Debris and needles can cause acute puncture wounds that affect only the outer layers of tissue.
However, a knife or gunshot wound can damage deep muscles and internal organs, leading to significant bleeding.
Incision
The cut is a clean, straight cut into the skin. Many surgical procedures use incisions. However, accidents with knives, razor blades, broken glass, and other sharp objects can cause scratches.
Cuts usually cause heavy, rapid bleeding. Deep wounds may need sutures because they might harm muscles or nerves.
Serious wounds do not heal overnight. Making new tissue by the body might take weeks. So after you leave the hospital or surgery, good home care is essential to prevent infection and minimize scarring.
Because wounds can be very different, your doctor will give you instructions on how to care for yourself after you leave the hospital. In most cases, doctors will ask patients for this
- Keep the wound covered with a clean bandage until no more fluid drains. Your doctor or nurse will advise you on how and how often to change the dressing.
- After surgery, wait about 2-4 days before showering. As each case is different, ask your nurse or doctor what to do before you can shower again.
- Avoid soaking in the tub or swimming until your next doctor’s appointment. Impurities in the water could enter the wound and contaminate it. There is also a risk that the wound may tear if it gets too wet.
- Try to keep pets away from the wound.
- Avoid picking or scratching scabs. A scab may itch as the skin underneath heals, but picking or scratching can tear the new skin underneath. The wound will take longer to heal and the scar it leaves may worsen.
Your doctor may use different techniques to treat an open wound. After cleaning and possibly numbing the area, the doctor may close the wound with skin glue, stitches, or stitches. If you have a puncture wound, you can get a tetanus shot.
Patients with diabetes may be at risk for diabetic foot ulcers, infections, and complications from these infections. Diabetic foot ulcers or wounds put patients at higher risk of hospitalization and the need for surgery or amputation. Diabetic foot wound care focuses on creating a healthy wound environment so that new skin cells can migrate across the wound. This often means keeping the wound slightly moist. However, if the wound becomes too wet due to excessive drainage from the inside of the wound, you may need a higher absorbency dressing.
Contacting a home wound care facility reduces the risk of lower extremity amputation because the wounds receive professional treatment. Your wound will be assessed, cleaned, treated and treated as needed by your wound care nurse. We will inform your doctor of your progress and work with him to discuss any modifications to your wound care regimen.
Depending on the location of your wound and the possibility of infection, your doctor may not close the wound and let it heal naturally. Healing by secondary intention, or from the wound’s base to the surface epidermis, is what is meant by this.