Laceration

Lacerations to the skin can cause damage to the underlying structures of the hand and fingers, including tendons, nerves, and blood vessels. As these structures lie close to the surface of the skin, there is a higher risk of injury when a laceration is deep or complex. Careful assessment is required to determine the full extent of the injury and guide appropriate treatment.

Is this an emergency?

It is an emergency if the laceration (cut) is deep, exposes bone, muscle, tendons, there is a foreign body embedded in the wound, you are unable to stop the bleeding, or blood is spurting.

Please contact 1300HANDOC immediately for advice and further instructions.

Symptoms

• Pain
• Bleeding – if an artery is involved the bleeding will spurt out
• Numbness or tingling
• Inability to move finger or hand
• Visible damage to structures in wound

Common causes

• Sharp objects – knives, glass, metal, tools and machinery
• Falls
• Animal Bites

Treatment

Treatment is based on the severity and location of the wound.

Please contact 1300HANDOC to discuss the treatment recommendations based on the injury.