subject: Wound Types Explained in Detail [print this page] Wound Types Explained in Detail Wound Types Explained in Detail
Wounds can be broadly categorized into open and closed wounds. These can be sub categorized as follows:
Open wounds
This category is further classified with respect to the object that became the reason for the wound:
- Incisions wounds: these are wounds that have been caused by a sharp-edged object. Objects such as knives or razors or glass.
- Lacerations: although the term laceration is commonly used, interchangeably, to refer to incisions, it is something completely different. This term actually refers to wounds that are more like a tear and caused by blunt trauma.
- Abrasions: These are wounds that are more of a graze. These occur when the epidermis on skin, gets scraped off. These are not deep but only superficial wounds caused by rubbing of skin against a rough surface.
- Puncture wounds: The cause of these kinds of wounds is an object actually puncturing the skin. I.e. creating a hole. Objects such as a nail or needle.
- Penetration wounds: These are wounds that occur as a result of something entering the body or coming out of the body and cutting through the skin.
- Gunshot wounds: As the name clearly states, these are wounds that are a result of a bullet or something similar (projectile driven) entering or passing through the body. A gunshot could result in more than one wound to the body. At the point of entrance and one when it exits. These are also called "through and through" wounds.
Closed
Although closed wounds can be classified into fewer categories these should not be taken lightly. These are as dangerous as an open wound. Closed wound types are:
- Contusions: Similar to a laceration, these are also caused by blunt trauma. However, in contusions (commonly called bruises) the tissues under the skin are damaged.
- Hematomas: in this wound blood collects under the skin. This is due to damage caused to blood vessels underneath the skin.
- Crush injury: These wounds result from applying extreme force at one point, over long periods of time.
- Chronic and Acute: Also called traumatic wounds, these result from injuries that disturb tissue. These are not sudden wounds but happen overtime. The formation process is relatively slow, that ends up in tissue damage. Examples include pressure, venous, and diabetic ulcers. These wounds are a result of tissues disintegrating due to insufficient circulation or failing of systemic support systems for the tissue. Later stages of these wounds could be characterized by critical infections.
