Wounds and cuts

Proven content

A wound is a break in the continuity of the outer shells (skin, mucosa) and deeper tissues. It is characterized by pain, bleeding and parting. The most common skin lesion is, but the wound may extend into body cavities and internal organs.

Wounds and cuts

Among wounds and cuts, I distinguish skin abrasions as well as cuts, stabs, bruises, tears, bites (bites), gunshot wounds and others, depending on the circumstances in which they arose and the tool they were applied to. In the initial phase, the wound or cut becomes filled with a blood clot, which is a natural dressing and protects the wound from microbial intrusion. The scab formed above the clot, on the other hand, is a protective barrier under which macrophages enter the wound to clean it of dead cells. Small wounds heal completely and leave no scars, unlike deep wounds, which make the body unable to rebuild all layers of the skin.

We divide the healing of wounds and cuts into three stages:

1. self-sealing of blood vessels wounds or cuts – injuries that break the continuity of the vessels cause immediate tissue constriction and vasoconstriction, in which there is a coagulation and the formation of a plug that clogs the lumen of the vessel and obstructs the outflow of blood to the outside. During this phase, a clot forms which sticks the edges of the wound together;
2. wound cleansing phase, – cuts and wounds cause inflammation which is a response to the disruption of the skin tissue. Then, inflammatory cells in the form of lymphocytes and granulocytes accumulate in the vicinity of the cut. This is manifested by wound swelling, erythema, pain and increased temperature. Inflammation causes local vessels to widen, facilitating the penetration of immune cells into the wound. Cells are designed to cleanse the wound of remnants of blood clots and bacteria. In straight-edged wounds, debridement is quick (maximum 4 days). On the other hand, dirty wounds and cuts with uneven edges and tissue cavities heal worse. Therefore, the wound should be thoroughly washed first and then decontaminated.
3. the process of rebuilding damaged tissue and possible scar formation – includes the regeneration of skin cells and restoring its continuity (scarring, granulation).

In order to speed up the healing of wounds, it is worth using the Help4Skin Wound Healing Hydrocolloid Wound Gel in spray, available at a promotional price on Medonet Market. We also recommend Sofargen gel for postoperative wounds and other skin irritations, which has healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Healing wounds and cuts

The healing process is an individual matter depending on several important factors:

1. the degree of contamination of the wound and how it was decontaminated,
2. places of damage to the body,
3. the type of damage and the shape and size of the wound or cut,
4. the number of tissues that have been damaged.

Whether a wound or cut heals quickly or slowly is also conditioned by the presence of an infection or hematoma in the wound area, as well as blood supply and temperature. In addition, the immune system of the injured person and his nutrition should be taken into account. Healing may be impeded by the coexistence of general diseases, e.g. diabetes or hypertension. Healing may also take a long time in patients receiving chemotherapy or steroid treatment.

You can speed up the process of wound healing by using Farmactive Silver – a wound spray with colloidal silver and hyaluronic acid with antiseptic and exudation-reducing properties. In order to disinfect wounds, you can use Microdacyn 60 – a hydrogel for disinfection and treatment of wounds, or Octenilin for cleaning and disinfecting wounds, available in liquid.

Types of wounds and cuts

Abrasion of the epidermis

The abrasion of the epidermis usually takes place by not too strong pressure of a hard, blunt tool, a fall or impact on a hard, rough surface. The wound is shallow, only the superficial layer of skin is damaged. However, minor skin lesions should not be taken lightly, as they can cause purulent infections.

Cut

A cut wound occurs as a result of exposure to the skin of a sharp, cutting object, such as glass, knife or razor. The edges and walls of the wound are smooth and even. Bleeding from such a wound is usually very profuse, and the blood that flows from the wound removes debris. A cut wound usually heals well and the risk of infection is low.

Stab wound

The features of a puncture wound are similar to those of a cut wound. A stab wound results from an injury with a sharp, long and narrow tool, such as a nail, pitchfork, knife, bayonet, etc. The outer opening is small, while the drilling canal can be deep. These items often stick deep into the tissues and can cause extensive internal damage.

A stab wound can lead to internal bleeding. Penetrating stab wounds to the chest and abdominal cavity are particularly dangerous. Stab wounds to the chest can damage the lungs or heart and large blood vessels and can cause massive haemorrhage with immediate death. Abdominal wounds, due to the possibility of intestinal damage, increase the risk of peritonitis and death if the patient is not operated on in a timely manner.

A bruised wound

A bruised wound is created when hit with a blunt instrument, e.g. with a hammer or a stone. Its edges are uneven, crushed, and the bleeding that occurs is rather slight, because the blood vessels are also crushed. The bruised tissues die quickly and then necrosis is formed. Both features: scanty bleeding and tissue contusion contribute to the rapid development of infection.

Laceration

A laceration wound results from sudden contact with a curved tool, such as a hook. Its edges are uneven and jagged, and at the bottom you can see jagged fat and muscles. There is often a loss of skin and deeper tissues.

The sun is shining

A bitten wound (usually more than one) is the result of being bitten by domestic animals, e.g. a dog or a cat, and sometimes also by wild animals (fox, wolf). These wounds are similar to lacerations, although at times they may be slight and appear harmless. When bitten by an animal, there is a danger of infection, since the bacterial flora in the mouth of animals is very abundant and malignant.

Bite wounds carry the risk of contracting rabies. For this reason, whenever an animal is bitten by an animal, regardless of the extent of the wound, contact a doctor immediately. Even minor damage can be a serious threat, as the rabies germ can penetrate the animal’s saliva by the slightest rubbing of the epidermis, even when the bite occurs through clothing. Wounds from bites to the face, head and neck are particularly dangerous, as the rabies virus travels along the nerves to the brain; then the path of the germ is short and the disease progresses very quickly. In order to avoid a fatal disease, one should be vaccinated against rabies.

As a support in wound healing, you can use L-Mesitran Gel Soft Honey Wound Ointment, which is available on Medonet Market.

Poisoned wound

In our geographical conditions, poisoned wounds are formed as a result of being bitten by a viper and after being stung by bees, wasps and hornets.

In people bitten by a viper, two characteristic bite points as well as painful swelling and bruising of the skin can be observed.

symptoms

Soon, people with poisoned wounds develop general symptoms, i.e.

1. dizziness and headache
2. nausea and vomiting
3. acceleration of the heart rate,
4. low blood pressure
5. trouble breathing and light-headedness until you pass out.

A bite by a viper can quickly lead to death, especially in children. Treatment of poisoned wounds includes early injection of serum against viper venom.

Spot wound from insect stings – the sting is most often observed. The venom of bees, wasps and hornets causes a temporary, burning swelling of the skin and subcutaneous tissue and redness. Occasionally, especially in people allergic to bee venom, the swelling may spread widely, affecting the eyelids and nasopharyngeal mucosa, and endanger the patient’s life by obstructing the larynx and trachea. It is necessary to administer antihistamines to the patient.

Gunshot wound

A gunshot wound may be a consequence of a projectile from a firearm (pistol, rifle) or by fragments of an exploding projectile, e.g. a grenade, artillery projectile, mine or aerial bomb. The bullet or fragment may remain in the tissues (blind wound) or pierce them right through (bullet wound). Stab wounds have an inlet and an outlet.

In these wounds, tissue damage results not only from the direct impact of the projectile, but also from its kinetic energy. If the projectile struck a particularly dangerous part of the body, for example in the skull, chest, abdominal cavity, the wounded life threat is serious. It happens that they die on the spot or shortly after the accident. Wounds caused by explosive projectiles are particularly dangerous, not only because of their extent, but also because of the easy development of anaerobic infections in them, e.g. gas gangrene.

Wounds and cuts – dressing

At the beginning, the wound should be cleaned to get rid of pathogenic microorganisms, e.g. tetanus. It is similar in the case of cuts – they should be thoroughly washed with water and then disinfected with a bactericidal preparation, e.g. betadine, hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine. However, remember not to cleanse the wounds too intensively, as this may damage the tissues even more. In addition, for washing, do not use preparations that contain iodine or alcohol, because they additionally irritate damaged skin. In addition, they dry it, which delays its regeneration. Riwanol has a proven antibacterial effect, e.g. in the form of a solution or tablets for solution preparation, which is often recommended for difficult to heal and infected wounds

Bleeding from wounds should stop after a few minutes. After decontamination, you can put a plaster on the wound or cut. Hydrocolloid dressings are also used, the properties of which accelerate the healing process. The pharmacy offers a number of ready-made plasters with dressings, it is best to get them of different sizes. The most important thing is that the dressing covers the entire wound and allows air to pass through. Special series are available for allergy sufferers, such as DermaPlast, and for active people, waterproof products, such as DermaPlast aqua.

At Medonet Market, order Lecoxen – a wound healing cream, the application of which will accelerate healing and avoid complications.

If damaged skin has come into contact with gravel or sand, check the last time the patient was vaccinated against tetanus. If this happened more than ten years ago – an immediate visit to the doctor is necessary so that he can assess the danger and order a possible vaccination and administration of an anti-tetanus toxoid.

How to decontaminate a wound when we do not have the disinfectant with us?

In this case, wash the wound thoroughly with warm soapy water. High-percentage alcohol can be used with minor abrasions or when there is a high risk of infection, as it causes severe burning and damage to the protein elements of the wound. In a situation where you do not have a sterile dressing with you – leave the wound to dry. Then, the dried up wound can be applied with a disinfecting ointment that penetrates deep into the skin, eg Tribiotic.

You can also use verbena herbal infusion as a wound compress.

Also read: Wound complications and their infections

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