Cuts and Lacerations
What is a cut or laceration?
A cut refers to a skin wound with separation of the connective tissue elements. Unlike an abrasion (a wound caused by friction or scraping), none of the skin is missing–the skin is just separated. A cut is typically thought of as a wound caused by a sharp object (such as a knife or a shard of glass).
The term laceration implies a torn or jagged wound. Lacerations tend to be caused by blunt trauma (such as a blow, fall, or collision). Cuts and lacerations are terms for the same condition.
The term gash can be used for more dramatic effect because it implies a longer or deeper cut.
An avulsion refers to a wound where tissue is not just separated but torn away from the body.
After you suffer a cut or laceration, you often bleed. Other concerns with a cut include infection, pain, damage to structures beneath the skin, and future scars.
When to seek medical careIf you answer yes to any of the following questions, seek medical care:
- Is the bleeding heavy and not stopping?
- Are the wound edges separated?
- Is there dirt, debris or torn tissue in the wound?
- Is it possible that serious underlying damage was done (such as a cut nerve or tendon)?
Your doctor will know the best way to treat your wound. Some minor cuts can be closed with special adhesive tapes or tissue. Deeper cuts may need stitches to repair deep structures (such as the connective tissue around a muscle). Stitches to the skin surface can help to stop bleeding, protect underlying tissues, and lessen scarring.
