Types of Wounds

• Open

• Close
 Open Wounds
• Abrasions
• Incisions
• Lacerations
• Punctures
• Avulsions
• Amputations
 Close Wounds
• Petechiae
• Contusion
• Hematoma
 Types of Wounds

• Many wounds are combinations of

two or more of these basic types
 Incised wounds
• caused by a clean, sharp-edged object
• involve only the epidermis
• legally classified as a cuts rather than a wound
• tend to bleed freely
• blood vessels are cut cleanly and without ragged edges
• little damage to the surrounding tissues
• least likely to become infected
• free flow of blood washes out many of the microorganisms that
cause infection
 Lacerations
• wounds are torn rather than cut
• ragged irregular edges and masses of torn tissue
underneath
• irregular wounds:
– blunt impact to soft tissue that lies over hard tissue
• laceration of the skin covering the skull
– tearing of skin and other tissues
• childbirth
– rough brushing against a surface
 Lacerations
• show bridging
• connective tissue or blood vessels are flattened against
the underlying hard surface
• term laceration is commonly misused in
reference to injury with sharp objects
– not display bridging (connective tissue and blood
vessels are severed)
• usually bigger and can cause more tissue
damage due to the size of the wound
 Lacerations
• dull knife
• bomb fragments
• accidents with machinery are lacerations
» often complicated by crushing of the tissues

• frequently contaminated
• dirt
• grease
• materials ground into the tissue
• very likely to become infected
 Abrasions (grazes)
• superficial wounds
– topmost layer of the skin (epidermis) is scraped
off
• infected quite easily
• dirt and germs are usually embedded in the tissues
• bleeding not profuse
• need medical attention for disinfection
 Abrasions (grazes)
• often caused
• sliding fall onto a rough surface
• rope burns
• floor burns
• skinned knees or elbows
 Puncture wounds
• objects penetrate into the tissues leaving a
small surface opening
• Nails
• Needles
• Wire
• Bullets
• As a rule
– small puncture wounds do not bleed freely
– large puncture wounds may cause severe internal
bleeding
 Puncture wounds
• wounds though not large in surface area are
deep and can cause great internal damage
• possibility of infection is great in all puncture
wounds
• to prevent anaerobic infections
• primary closures are not made
 Penetrating wounds
• object entering the body
• knife
 Gunshot wounds
• caused by a bullet or similar projectile driving into or through
the body
• two wounds - through-and-through
• site of entry
• site of exit
• Profuse bleeding
• Serious internal injury
• victims are in great pain
• can suck in the contaminants from the air
• susceptible to infection
• In a medical context, stab wounds and gunshot wounds are
considered major wounds
 Gunshot wounds
• low-velocity missile damages only the tissues it
comes into contact with
• velocity of wound-causing missiles (bullets or
shrapnel)
• high-velocity missile can do enormous damage by
forcing the tissues and body parts away from the
track of the missile with a velocity only slightly less
than that of the missile itself. These tissues,
especially bone, may become damage-causing
missiles themselves, thus accentuating the
destructive effects of the missile
 AVULSION
• tearing away of tissue from a body part
• bleeding is usually heavy
• In certain situations, the torn tissue may be
surgically reattached
• wrapping in a sterile dressing placing
• in a cool container
• rushing it-along with the victim-to a medical facility
• Do not allow the avulsed portion to freeze
• Do not immerse it in water or saline
AVULSION
 AMPUTATION
• nonsurgical removal of the limb from the body
• bleeding is heavy
• tourniquet to stop the flow
• shock is certain to develop
• limb can often be successfully reattached
• wrap the limb in a sterile dressing
• place in a cool container
• transport it to the hospital with the victim
• Do not allow the limb to be in direct contact with ice
• Do not immerse in water or saline
AMPUTATION
AMPUTATION
 CLOSED WOUNDS
• have fewer categories
• as dangerous as open wounds
• types of closed wounds
• Petechiae
• Contusion
• Hematoma
• Crushing Injuries
 Petechia
• circumscribed extravasation of blood in the
subcutaneous tissue or underneath the mucous
membrane
• passage of blood from the capiliaries may be due to
the increase intra-capillary pressure or increased
permeability of the vessel
• hemorrhage may be small or pinhead sized
• may coalesce to form a bigger hemorrhagic area
• Petechia is not always a product of trauma
 Contusions
• commonly known as bruises
• caused by blunt force trauma or a hard punch
or knock
• rupture certain brittle capillaries that are found under
the skin
• blood then leaks into the tissues
» "blue-black" discoloration

• occasional splitting of the skin

Contusions
 Contusions
• red sometimes purple soon after its complete
development
• 4 to 5 days - color changes to green
• 7 to 10 days - becomes yellow
• 14 to 15 days - gradually disappears
• The ultimate disappearance of color varies from one
to four weeks depending upon the severity and the
constitution of the body
• color changes start from the periphery inwards
 HEMATOMAS
• blood tumors
• damage to blood vessel
– blood to collect under
the skin
• blunt instrument is
applied in part of the
body whewere bony
tissue is superficially
located
 HEMATOMAS
• force applied causes the
subcutaneous tissue
will lead to the
accumulation of blood
causing it to elevate
 Crushing injuries
• caused by a great or extreme amount of force
applied over a long period of time
 Causes of Wounds

• Knowing what has caused the wound may

give you some idea of the
• probable size of the wound
• general nature
• extent to which it is likely to become contaminated
with foreign matter
• special dangers must be guarded against