Biology Assignment, Types of Wounds and Quick Treatments

5 Types of Open Wounds: Abrasion – Abrasions are wounds caused by traumatic scraping and loss of skin. Falls occurring while in motion frequently lead to skin abrasions. Extensive skin loss may occur with high-speed motorcycle or similar accidents. Thorough cleansing and bandaging of abrasions involving small/limited skin loss should be done as first aid. Extensive or deep abrasions require a bigger treatment, which, in the most severe cases, may include skin grafting (used to permanently replace damaged or missing skin or to provide a temporary wound covering). Lacerations – Lacerations consist of cuts to the skin caused by sharp objects.

Broken glass, knives, and other sharp tools are what commonly cause/started skin lacerations. In “Common Simple Emergencies,” thorough cleansing of a laceration wound is important in preventing wound infection. Adhesive strips, tissue adhesive, skin staples or stitches can be used to close a laceration wound. How to close a laceration wounds depends on the location, shape, size and the severity of the wound. Punctures – Puncture wounds result from forceful, deep skin penetration by slender objects. Accidentally stepping on a nail or other sharp object is a common cause of puncture wounds.

Punctures wounds provided bacteria with an entryway into the deep layers of the skin where they can grow. The risk for tetanus, an infection caused by the bacterium Clostridium tentani, in simpler words meaning, infection from dirty metallic objects may provide health concern. Puncture wounds can be treated through cleansing and making sure you are up to date with your tetanus vaccination. Puncture wounds associated with animal, such as bees or most commonly dogs and human bites may require some medicine/antibiotic treatment because of the high risk infection to the bone and flesh.

Animal bites may require rabies vaccination if the animal has rabies, or if their current status is unknown. Incision – Rarely occurs, unless when handling knives, or bumping into something sharp, incision is almost like a scratch except deeper and more serious. More like a cut in the skin caused by a sharp object such as a knife, broken glass, scissors or surgeon’s scalpel. Incision wounds are also “neat” (does not affect a large amount of area with little wounds) and the edges of the skin are usually smooth (not damaged, more like split)

Avulsion – An injury in which a body structure is forcibly detached. It most commonly refers to a surface trauma where all layers of the skin have been torn away; exposing the underlying structures (e. g. subcutaneous tissue, muscle, tendons). This is similar to an abrasion but more severe, as body parts such as an eyelid or an ear can be partially or fully detached from the body. (Simple form: the forced removal of all of layers of the skin, the Epidermis, Dermis and Hypodermis, revealing tissues, muscles, tendons and sometimes bones underneath)