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- Services and providers for Wounds in the U.S.
Wounds
Wounds include cuts, scrapes, scratches and punctured skin. They often occur as a result of an accident or injury, but surgical incisions, sutures, and stitches also cause wounds. Minor wounds usually aren't serious, but even cuts and scrapes require care. To avoid infection and aid healing
- Apply pressure with a clean cloth to stop bleeding
- Clean the wound with water
- Use an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection
- Bandage the wound if it's in an area that might get dirty
- Watch for swelling and redness
- Get a tetanus booster if you are due for one
Serious and infected wounds require medical attention. You should also seek attention if the wound is deep, if you cannot close it yourself, if you cannot stop the bleeding or get the dirt out, or if it does not heal.
Start Here
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Cuts, Scrapes and Stitches: Caring for Wounds(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
| Basics | Learn More | Multimedia & Cool Tools |
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| Research | Reference Shelf | For You |
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Bacterial Wound Culture(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Treatment
- Cosmetic Surgery for Treating Wounds(Cleveland Clinic Foundation)
- Cuts and Scrapes: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Incision Care(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
- Puncture Wounds: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Severe Bleeding: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Sutures(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School)
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Alternative Therapy
- Honey: Can It Speed Wound Healing?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Nutrition
- Nutrition Guidelines to Improve Wound Healing(Cleveland Clinic Foundation)
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Related Issues
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Emergency Wound Care After a Natural Disaster(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Also available in Spanish
- Facts about Tetanus for Adults(National Foundation for Infectious Diseases) - Links to PDF
- How to Change Wound Dressings(Cleveland Clinic Foundation)
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JAMA Patient Page: Wound Infections(American Medical Association)
Also available in Spanish
- Staph Wound Infections and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Wound Care: Preventing Infection
(Amputee Coalition of America)
- Wound Dressings and Other Accessory Products(Cleveland Clinic Foundation)
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Emergency Wound Care After a Natural Disaster(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Wounds and Injuries
(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Wounds and Injuries
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Research
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One Protein Offers Clues to Both Wound Healing and Hair Growth(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
- Researchers Grow Human Blood Vessels in Mice from Adult Progenitor Cells(American Heart Association)
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Scientists Study Protein's Antibacterial Action in Wounds(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
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One Protein Offers Clues to Both Wound Healing and Hair Growth
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Implementation of evidence-based practices for surgical site infection prophylaxis: results...
- Article: Risk factors for surgical site infection after major breast operation.
- Article: Human facial allotransplantation: a 2-year follow-up study.
- Wounds -- see more articles
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Organizations
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Also available in Spanish
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
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Children
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Bleeding(Nemours Foundation)
Also available in Spanish
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Checking Out Cuts, Scratches, and Abrasions(Nemours Foundation)
Also available in Spanish
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How Stitches Help Kids Heal(Nemours Foundation)
Also available in Spanish
- Lacerations with Stitches(Children's Hospital Boston)
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What's a Scab?(Nemours Foundation)
Also available in Spanish
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Bleeding(Nemours Foundation)
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Date last updated: 16 September 2008 Topic last reviewed: 01 May 2008 |