Treatments for Open Wounds

When we talk about open wounds we are talking about external injuries such as to the mucous membrane or skin, injuries that results in the breaking or opening of tissue.

Open wounds are usually a result of scrapes, cuts, abrasions and punctures. These wounds are mostly accompanied by bleeding. There are various treatments that help minimize extensive bleeding, infection and intensive scarring. The treatment includes applying pressure, cleaning, dressing, stitching and medication. We will discuss each of these treatments in detail below:

- Applying Pressure

If you get a small wound for e.g. paper cuts, applying pressure can be done away with as in these kind of wounds bleeding usually stops within minutes or even seconds. Larger open wounds however, pose a greater threat as they can bleed profusely. Large open wounds that are bleeding require application of pressure in order to stop blood loss. The best way to get this done is to wrap the wound in a piece of clean cloth. This could be a rag, towel or t-shirt. The piece of cloth should be wrapped so that it is taught. This should not be considered as a permanent treatment. This is temporary until proper medical help is available.

- Cleaning

Small open wounds should be allowed to bleed for a few seconds. This will help clean these wounds naturally.

It is also possible that these wounds are washed gently with a mixture of soap and water. Also commonly used for this purpose are rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide solutions.

If you are faced with a wound that is a kind of abrasion and has bits of dirt or other debris, this wound will need to be scrubbed clean so as to prevent permanent discoloration of the skin.

- Dressing

After properly cleaning an open wound, the wound should be covered by applying a sterile dressing. This could be in the form of a bandage or gauze and tape. While doing this a bit of disinfectant gel can also be used on the affected area. Small cuts, it has been found, heal faster when left exposed to open air.

- Stitches

Open wounds that are large or are present in vital or high stress areas a stitch or sutures will need to be used. A cut that is larger than half an inch or is deep enough to reveal the underlying layer of fat generally require stitching.

- Drugs

To prevent infections in open wounds, especially those caused by animal bites or unsanitary objects, drugs may be prescribed to the patient.