nurse for open wounds

open wounds

Open wounds involve an external or internal breach of body tissues, typically involving the skin. Everyone faces an open wound at some point in life, some minor and some major. Most of these minor open wounds are treatable at home. Many of these open wounds may be treated at home, but to ensure appropriate recovery, it’s crucial to know how to properly clean and bandage them. The most common complications of open wounds include falls, collisions with sharp objects, and automobile accidents. In the event of a catastrophic injury, you ought to get quick medical attention. This is especially true if there are a lot of hemorrhages or if it continues for more than 20 minutes. 

types of open wounds

Depending on the causes, there are around four types of open wounds-

Abrasion- When anything scrapes or grazes the skin, the top levels of skin break, resulting in an abrasion. It can be an open wound if the surrounding skin or tissue layers are visible. Deep abrasions might affect layers of nerves or blood vessels. However, these wounds are typically minor, and good recovery should be ensured with just a little cleansing and bandage.

Laceration- A laceration injury is a wound that penetrates multiple layers of tissue or skin. It is typically brought on by a blow from a direct blow or a slicing motion from a blunt blade. In contrast to surgical incisions, these wounds are often ragged and irregular in shape. Since bleeding can severely infiltrate soft tissue, preventing it is frequently the first step in wound care. These wounds can be cleaned and bandaged once the bleeding has ceased, but controlling the bleeding may require stitches or other wound types. 

Puncture- A puncture is a type of open injury that you suffer when you are hit by sharp or pointed things like a nail or teeth. These wounds typically do not bleed a lot, but they seem closed at first glance. The wound may still be exposed to the air, allowing bacteria and other material to get in. If not cleaned and cared for correctly, these wounds are vulnerable to infection.

Avulsion- An avulsion is when you suffer a cut or a rupture that peels your skin away. Even though the skin is still linked to the edge of the incision, these injuries, also known as full-thickness wounds, typically reveal the fat and tissue beneath the skin. Avulsions are frequently extremely dangerous and almost always need medical attention.

when to see a doctor

The open wound healing process generally happens at home as it’s treatable easily. However, there are a few conditions where you should see a doctor. If your open wound is larger than half an inch, visit a doctor. If the bleeding won’t stop with significant pressure, lasts more than 20 minutes, or was brought on by a severe injury, you should also consult a doctor.

open wound dressing treatment

It’s possible that minor or acute open wounds do not need medical attention. These open wound treatments can be done by anyone at home. On the other hand, serious open wounds that are heavily bleeding will need to be treated right away.

The following steps should be included in open wound care

1. Stop the bleeding- Stop the bleeding by gently applying direct pressure with a clean cloth or bandage to encourage blood clotting.

2. Clean the Wound- To clean the open skin wound, rinse it with fresh water and saline solution to get rid of any dirt or bacteria. Use a clean cloth to wipe the injury dry after it appears to be clean. If a severe wound contains dead tissue, glass, bullets, or other foreign objects, a surgeon may need to conduct a surgical exfoliation to eliminate it.

3. Antibiotics- The most essential treatment for an open wound is an antibiotic. Apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment after washing the wound to stop infection.

4. Close and dress the wound- Clean wound closure aids in accelerating healing. For small wounds, gauze and waterproof dressings are effective. Stitches or pins could be needed for deep open wounds. However, keep a wound that is already affected open until the open wound infection is gone.

5. Routinely Change the Dressing- The previous bandages should be removed and you should check for signs of infection every 24 hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Trusted Source. Apply a fresh adhesive bandage or piece of gauze after cleaning and drying the wound. Don’t forget to preserve the wound dry as it heals.

home care for open wounds 

You can take care of small wounds at home. Cleanse and sanitize the wound first to get rid of all the contaminants and debris. To stop bleeding and swelling, you should apply immediate pressure and inversion on the wound. Use a sterile swab or bandage whenever you cover a wound. Very small wounds might heal properly without a bandage. For five days, the wound must be kept dry and clean. Make sure to get enough rest as well. Usually, a wound is accompanied by pain. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be taken as recommended on the label. Aspirin-containing products should be avoided as they may prolong or cause bleeding.

If you have swelling or bruising, apply an ice pack, and refrain from scratching at scabs. Use sun protection factor (SPF) 30 sunscreen on the affected region when outside until it has fully recovered.

nurse for open wound dressing 

To treat your infected sore, your doctor might employ a variety of methods. Your doctor might heal the incision with skin glue, sutures, or stitches after cleaning and perhaps numbing the area. If you’ve been punctured, you might get a tetanus vaccine. Your doctor can choose to leave the incision open and allow it to heal spontaneously relying on its position and the risk of infection. This is referred to as open wound healing by direct extension, which means doing so from the wound’s edge to the skin’s surface.

You might need to apply gauze to your wound throughout this process. Although mending may not be ideal, it stops infection and wound dehiscence. You might need to apply gauze to your wound throughout this process. Although mending may not be ideal, it stops infection and wound dehiscence. Painkillers are yet another approach to treating an open wound. In cases of infection or high risk of infection, your doctor may additionally advise penicillin or some other antibiotic. Sometimes, you might require surgery.

A body part that has been severed should be taken to the hospital so that it could be reattached. The body portion should be wrapped in wet gauze and packed in ice. When replacing bandages and dressings, it’s crucial to cleanse your hands and operate on a spotless area. Before applying a new dressing, carefully scrub and rinse the wound. Put used bandages and dressings in bin packaging for disposal.

open wound dressing near me 

Now, we all face wounds in our day-to-day lives. So it is necessary to dress it properly and apply the right wound care so that it heals quickly. In certain circumstances when you cannot tend to your wounds, you can call for medical services like Portea where you’ll be addressed by a medical nurse to tend to your open wounds. Portea comes with trained medical professionals for wound dressing who would come to your house so that you don’t have to visit the clinic or hospital. You won’t even have any risks or complications that arise with infections. 

The professional and compassionate nurses at Portea will not only appropriately dress your wound but will also take good care of it to encourage speedy healing, whether you have pressure sores, wounds that are infected, bruised, or need wound care after surgery.