Wounds and Injuries

Summary

An injury is damage to your body. It is a general term that refers to harm caused by accidents, falls, hits, weapons, and more. In the U.S., millions of people injure themselves every year. These injuries range from minor to life-threatening. Injuries can happen at work or play, indoors or outdoors, driving a car, or walking across the street.

Wounds are injuries that break the skin or other body tissues. They include cuts, scrapes, scratches, and punctured skin. They often happen because of an accident, but surgery, sutures, and stitches also cause wounds. Minor wounds usually aren’t serious, but it is important to clean them. Serious and infected wounds may require first aid followed by a visit to your doctor. You should also seek attention if the wound is deep, you cannot close it yourself, you cannot stop the bleeding or get the dirt out, or it does not heal.

Other common types of injuries include:

• Animal bites
• Bruises
• Burns
• Dislocations
• Electrical injuries
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Sprains and strains

Find an Expert

• American Red Cross American Red Cross
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Find a Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse in Your Area Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Diagnosis and Tests

• Bacteria Culture Test National Library of Medicine
• Diagnostic peritoneal lavage – series — Indication Medical Encyclopedia
• Wound Drainage Culture (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Children

• Bites and Scratches (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Dealing with Cuts (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• What’s a Scab? Nemours Foundation

Patient Handouts

• Bleeding Medical Encyclopedia
• Crush injury Medical Encyclopedia
• Cuts and puncture wounds Medical Encyclopedia
• Electrical injury Medical Encyclopedia
• Gunshot wounds – aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• How wounds heal Medical Encyclopedia
• Laceration – sutures or staples – at home Medical Encyclopedia
• Lacerations – liquid bandage Medical Encyclopedia
• Surgical wound care – open Medical Encyclopedia
• Surgical wound infection – treatment Medical Encyclopedia
• Wet-to-dry dressing changes Medical Encyclopedia
• Wound care centers Medical Encyclopedia

Treatments and Therapies

• Caring for Your Incision after Surgery American Academy of Family Physicians
• Cuts and Scrapes: First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Puncture Wounds: First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Severe Bleeding: First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Suture, Surgical VisualDX

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Lacerations National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Wounds and Injuries National Institutes of Health

Encyclopedia

• Closed suction drain with bulb Medical Encyclopedia
• Genital injury Medical Encyclopedia
• Hemovac drain Medical Encyclopedia
• Human bites – self-care Medical Encyclopedia
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy Medical Encyclopedia
• Skin flaps and grafts – self-care Medical Encyclopedia
• Sterile technique Medical Encyclopedia
• Sternal exploration or closure Medical Encyclopedia
• Surgical wound care – closed Medical Encyclopedia

Related Issues

• Emergency Wound Care after a Natural Disaster Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Playground Safety Tips for Parents Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Scars and Wounds American Cancer Society
• Travelers’ Health: Injury and Trauma Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Statistics and Research

• FastStats: Accidents or Unintentional Injuries National Center for Health Statistics
• Fatal Injury and Violence Data Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Leading Causes of Death and Injury Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Life After Traumatic Injury: How the Body Responds National Institute of General Medical Sciences
• Researchers Uncover Clues to Why Some Wounds Don’t Heal National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• State Occupational Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities Bureau of Labor Statistics

Specifics

• Frequently Asked Questions about Surgical Site Infections Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Internal Bleeding Merck & Co., Inc.
• Puncture Wounds American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
• What Is Physical Trauma? National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Journal Articles

• Wounds and Injuries

Start Here

• What Do I Need in My First Aid Kit? American Academy of Family Physicians

Teenagers

• Wound Healing and Care Nemours Foundation