What is a Laceration?

A laceration is a wound that occurs when the skin, tissue, or muscle is cut open. Lacerations can be shallow or deep, and vary in size and shape. Many lacerations result from an object hitting the skin with force. If you experience deep lacerations that are life-threatening, call 911 immediately or visit your nearest emergency room.

How to Treat Lacerations

Dr. Ehrmantraut will carefully examine the laceration to determine whether it involves muscles, tendons, nerves, bone, or blood vessels. This will help to determine the type of treatment appropriate to heal the laceration. The cleaning of lacerations is crucial in preventing infection from occurring and reducing the appearing of scarring. After Dr. Ehrmantraut appropriately cleans the wound, sutures, tissue adhesives, staples, or skin-closure tapes will be used to close it. Sutures are used to close lacerations that are deep, bleeding, have jagged edges, or have muscle or fat exposed. If the laceration is very deep and the underlying muscle or tissue is also lacerated, absorbable sutures may need to be placed under the skin before the wound can be closed.

Recovery

Following laceration repair, patients will need to keep the wound clean and dry, and wear a protective dressing for at least 24 hours after the procedure. An antibiotic or white petrolatum ointment can be applied to the wound daily to prevent infections and promote healing. It is important to follow Dr. Ehrmantraut’s specific postoperative instructions to ensure a safe and quick recovery.

If you have experienced lacerations, contact Dr. Ehrmantraut’s office today to schedule an appointment for repair. We serve patients in the southern Maryland, Annapolis and Arlington, VA areas.