Puncture wounds from objects like nails and bites are most susceptible to infection with tetanus. However, you can also get tetanus from any exposure to soil, including minor cuts, scrapes, and burns, and sometimes with no injury at all. Once the tetanus bacteria get into your tissues, it starts creating toxins.

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons suggest that people seek medical help within 24 hours after they step on a nail. Stepping on a nail can push debris and bacteria into the foot. Even if a person cleans the wound thoroughly at home, or the wound looks small, there is still a risk of infection.

A minor nail puncture may not require a visit to your doctor. But, if the nail or wound was dirty or the puncture is deep, you should see your doctor or visit urgent care. They’ll likely give you a tetanus booster shot if you haven’t had one in the past 5 years.

Although most minor puncture wounds and cuts heal without treatment beyond first aid and home care, some should receive immediate medical attention. Seek emergency medical care if you notice any of the following: the bleeding is heavy, spurting, or doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of applying pressure.

Infection is a common complication of puncture wounds that can lead to serious consequences. Sometimes a minor skin infection evolves into a bone or joint infection, so you should be aware of signs to look for. A minor skin infection may develop in two to five days after injury.

The signs of a minor infection that show up around the wound include soreness, redness and possibly drainage, swelling and warmth. You may also develop a fever. If these signs have not improved, or if they reappear in 10 to 14 days, a serious infection in the joint or bone may have developed.

For deeper contaminated wounds and delayed presentation in high-risk patients, broad-spectrum oral antibiotics are recommended such as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, or clindamycin with ciprofloxacin.

You should see new skin forming over the wound, and the exposed wound should shrink. This process usually lasts two to three weeks, but deeper and more severe wounds may require more healing time.

Puncture wounds are one form of a deep wound that cuts deeper than ¼ of an inch beneath the surface of the skin. While many… Puncture wounds are one form of a deep wound that cuts deeper than ¼ of an inch beneath the surface of the skin.

Keep the wound dry for the first 24 to 48 hours. After this, you can shower if your doctor okays it. Pat the wound dry. Don’t soak the wound, such as in a bathtub.

A puncture wound is a hole in the skin made by a sharp, pointed object. The area may be bruised or swollen. You may have bleeding, pain, or trouble moving the affected area.

Puncture wounds may be stitched if the cosmetic appearance of the resulting scar will be greatly improved or if stitching is needed to restore function to an injured deep structure, such as a tendon or ligament.

Most wounds that require closure should be stitched, stapled, or closed with skin adhesives (also called liquid stitches) within 6 to 8 hours after the injury. Some wounds that require treatment can be closed as long as 24 hours after the injury.

What Happens If You Leave Stitches (or Staples) in Too Long? Get your stitches out at the right time. Stitches that are left in too long can leave skin marks and sometimes cause scarring. Delays also make it harder to take the stitches out.

Luckily, an urgent care center is the perfect solution for a cut that requires stitches. Unlike an emergency room, most urgent care centers have short wait times and are much more affordable. By visiting your neighborhood urgent care center, you can get in, get out and get back to life. No hassles.

How Does a Doctor Put Stitches In? If you need stitches, the nurse or assistant will usually start by putting a numbing gel on top of the cut. When the skin is numb, he or she will begin cleaning your cut with sterile water, which is squirted into the cut to remove harmful germs and dirt.

While a patient may feel that one or two stitches are all that’s needed, 10 or more may in fact be required to close their skin. And there is good reason for it.