Lacerations

What is a laceration? Lacerations are injuries involving a cut or break in the skin and are typically caused by blunt trauma. Depending on the injury, the laceration may affect only the superficial layers of skin, or may cause damage to underlying soft tissue including tendons, blood vessels, nerves, or ligaments.

How does a laceration happen? Lacerations occur due to blunt trauma and are usually caused by sharp objects. Lacerations can happen to anyone exposed to sharp objects, but factory workers, butchers, deli workers, carpenters, contractors, and metal workers are at an increased risk.

What is the treatment for a laceration? Laceration should always be cleaned and depending on the severity, sutures may be required as well. In deeper wounds with tissue damage surgery may be required to repair the damaged area. In wounds that become infected, antibiotics and/or surgery may be required to irrigate and drain the wound. For more complex lacerations, therapy may also be needed to regain range of motion, mobilize the scar, and provide desensitization.
Toll Free

Print version