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Information about Wound

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Superficial bullet wounds


In medicine, a wound is a type of physical trauma where in the skin is torn, cut or punctured (an open wound), or where blunt force trauma causes a contusion (a closed wound). In pathology, it specifically refers to a sharp injury which damages the dermis of the skin.

Before any medical or paramedical evaluation, a wound is considered as minor when:
  • it is superficial (a "flesh wound");
  • it is away from natural orifices;
  • there is only minor bleeding;
  • it was not caused by a tool or an animal.
Any other wound should be considered as severe. If there is any doubt, a wound should be considered as severe. "Severe" does not necessarily mean that it endangers life, but it must at least be seen by a physician. In the case of severe open wounds, there is a risk of blood loss (which could lead to shock), and an increased chance of infection due to bacteria entering a wound that is exposed to air. Due to the risk of infection, wounds should be kept clean, and closed if possible until professional help is available.

Depending on their severity, closed wounds can be just as dangerous as open wounds. An injury to the brain such as a contusion is an extremely dire closed wound, and requires emergency medical attention.

Types of wounds

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Wound, sewed with four stitches
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A laceration to the leg
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An abrasion

Open

Open wounds can be classified into a number of different types, according to the object that caused the wound. The types of open wound are:
  • Incisions or incised wounds - caused by a clean, sharp-edged object such as a knife, a razor or a glass splinter. Incisions which involve only the epidermis are legally classified as cuts, rather than wounds.
  • - Irregular wounds caused by a blunt impact to soft tissue which lies over hard tissue (e.g. laceration of the skin covering the skull) or tearing of skin and other tissues such as caused by childbirth. Lacerations may show bridging, as connective tissue or blood vessels are flattened against the underlying hard surface. Commonly misused in reference to injury with sharp objects, which would not display bridging (connective tissue and blood vessels are severed).
  • Abrasions (grazes) - a superficial wound in which the topmost layer of the skin (the epidermis) is scraped off. Often caused by a sliding fall onto a rough surface.
  • Puncture wounds - caused by an object puncturing the skin, such as a nail or needle.
  • Penetration wounds - caused by an object such as a knife entering the body.
  • Gunshot wounds - caused by a bullet or similar projectile driving into or through the body. There may be two wounds, one at the site of entry and one at the site of exit.
In a medical context, all stab wounds and gunshot wounds are considered major wounds.

Closed

Closed wounds have fewer categories, but are just as dangerous as open wounds. The types of closed wounds are:
  • Contusions - (more commonly known as a bruise) - caused by blunt force trauma that damages tissue under the skin
  • Hematoma - (also called a blood tumor) - caused by damage to a blood vessel that in turn causes blood to collect under the skin
  • Crushing Injuries - caused by a great or extreme amount of force applied over a long period of time.

Healing

To heal a wound, the body undertakes a series of actions collectively known as the wound healing process.

External links

  • WOUNDS, online open-access journal featuring articles about wound care and related research.
  • Ostomy Wound Management, online open-access journal featuring articles about wound care, ostomy care, incontinence care and nutrition
  • Journal of Burns and Wounds, online open-access journal featuring articles about wound care and related research

References

Medicine is the science and "" of maintaining and/or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of patients. The term is derived from the Latin ars medicina meaning the art of healing.
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Skin layers: epidermis, dermis, and subcutis, showing a hair follicle, sweat gland & sebaceous gland.]] In zootomy and dermatology, skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial tissues that guard underlying muscles and organs.
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Physical trauma refers to a physical injury. A trauma patient is someone who has suffered serious and life-threatening physical injury potentially resulting in secondary complications such as shock, respiratory failure and death.
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MeSH D003288 A bruise, also called a contusion or ecchymosis, is a kind of injury to biological tissue in which the capillaries are damaged, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding tissue. It is usually caused by blunt impact.
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Pathologist redirects here. For other uses of the terms pathology or pathological, see pathology (disambiguation).


Pathology is the study and diagnosis of disease through examination of organs, tissues, cells and bodily fluids.
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The dermis is a layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many nerve endings that provide the sense of touch and heat.
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A body orifice is an opening in the body of an animal. In a typical mammalian body such as the human body, the body orifices are:
  • The nostrils, for breathing and the associated sense of smell.
  • The eyes, for the sense of sight and crying.

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Bleeding, technically known as hemorrhage (American English) or haemorrhage (British English) is the loss of blood from the circulatory system.[1] Bleeding can occur internally, where blood leaks from blood vessels inside the body or externally, either
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It may never be fully completed or, depending on its its nature, it may be that it can never be completed. However, new and revised entries in the list are always welcome.

This is a list of organisms that are dangerous to humans.
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physician applies to a person who practices some type of medicine. Such medical practitioners are concerned with maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury, through both an area of knowledge
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Bleeding, technically known as hemorrhage (American English) or haemorrhage (British English) is the loss of blood from the circulatory system.[1] Bleeding can occur internally, where blood leaks from blood vessels inside the body or externally, either
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Shock
Classification & external resources

ICD-10 many incl. R 57.
ICD-9 785

DiseasesDB 12013
MedlinePlus 000039
eMedicine emerg/531   med/285 emerg/533

MeSH D012769

For other uses, see Shock.

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An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. In an infection, the infecting organism seeks to utilize the host's resources to multiply (usually at the expense of the host).
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Bacteria

Phyla

Actinobacteria
Aquificae
Chlamydiae
Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi
Chloroflexi
Chrysiogenetes
Cyanobacteria
Deferribacteres
Deinococcus-Thermus
Dictyoglomi
Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria
Firmicutes
Fusobacteria
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An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. In an infection, the infecting organism seeks to utilize the host's resources to multiply (usually at the expense of the host).
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MeSH D001930

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), traumatic injuries to the brain, also called intracranial injury, or simply head injury, occurs when a sudden trauma causes brain damage.
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Cerebral contusion, latin contusio cerebri, a form of traumatic brain injury, is a bruise of the brain tissue. Like bruises in other tissues, cerebral contusion can be caused by multiple microhemorrhages, small blood vessel leaks into brain tissue.
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Medical Emergency is an Australian reality television series screened on the Seven Network. Medical Emergency is narrated by actor Chris Gabardi who also appears in drama series All Saints.
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knife is a sharp-edged (single or double edged) instrument consisting of a thin blade used for cutting and fitted with a handle. The knife can be used as a tool or a weapon.
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razor is a bladed tool primarily used in shaving on the body to remove unwanted hair.

Early razors

Razors have been identified from many Bronze Age cultures. These were made of bronze or obsidian and were generally oval in shape, with a small tang protruding from one of
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Epidermis may refer to:
  • Epidermis (botany), in plants, the outermost layer of cells covering the leaves and young parts of a plant
  • Epidermis (skin), in vertebrates, the outermost layer of the skin

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abrasion, is superficial damage to the skin, generally not deeper than the epidermis. It is more superficial than an excoriation, although it can give mild bleeding. Mild abrasions, also known as 'grazes' do not scar, but deep abrasions may lead to the development of scarring
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Skin layers: epidermis, dermis, and subcutis, showing a hair follicle, sweat gland & sebaceous gland.]] In zootomy and dermatology, skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial tissues that guard underlying muscles and organs.
..... Click the link for more information.
Skin layers: epidermis, dermis, and subcutis, showing a hair follicle, sweat gland & sebaceous gland.]] In zootomy and dermatology, skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial tissues that guard underlying muscles and organs.
..... Click the link for more information.
nail is a pin-shaped, sharp object of hard metal, typically steel, used as a fastener. Nails for specialised purposes may also be made of stainless steel, brass or aluminium.
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hypodermic needle is a hollow needle commonly used with a syringe to inject substances into the body. They may also be used to take liquid samples from the body, for example taking blood from a vein in venipuncture.
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knife is a sharp-edged (single or double edged) instrument consisting of a thin blade used for cutting and fitted with a handle. The knife can be used as a tool or a weapon.
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The field of wound ballistics largely comprises the study of the physiology and medical effects of projectile weapons (chiefly, but not exclusively, bullets) on humans or animals. It can be considered the intersection of medicine and terminal ballistics.
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bullet is a solid projectile propelled by a firearm or air gun and is normally made from metal (usually lead). A bullet (in contrast to a shell) does not contain explosives, and damages the intended target solely by imparting kinetic energy upon impact.
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MeSH D003288 A bruise, also called a contusion or ecchymosis, is a kind of injury to biological tissue in which the capillaries are damaged, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding tissue. It is usually caused by blunt impact.
..... Click the link for more information.


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