Types of Lacerations
First and foremost, a laceration is a type of injury where the skin on your hand is torn, cut, or punctured. A laceration can also be used to describe an injury where blunt force trauma caused a contusion in the hand — in other words the wound is closed and under the skin, as opposed to an open wound. At The Vu Center, our board-certified hand specialist has years of training and can provide expert care for those who have a laceration or open wound. The most common types of hand injuries that we treat include:
- Avulsions – An amputation where the extremity is forcibly detached rather than cut off.
- Puncture wounds – When an object punctures the skin, such as splinter, nail, or needle.
- Lacerations – Tear-like wounds caused by blunt trauma.
- Incision or incised wounds – Wounds caused by a clean, sharp-edged object, such as a knife, glass splinter, or razor.
- Hematomas – Also referred to as a blood tumor. This type of injury is caused by damage to the blood vessel that results in blood collecting under the skin.
- Crush injuries – Caused by an extreme amount of force placed on the injury site over a long period of time.
- Gunshot wounds – The result of a bullet or another projectile puncturing the skin. This type of injury can often result in two wounds.
- Penetration wounds – When an object, such as a knife, enters and exits the skin
- Abrasions – Superficial wounds where the top layer of the skin is scraped off.
When to See a Doctor
As mentioned earlier, we use our hands for a lot of different things throughout the day, and it’s not uncommon to have small scrapes and injuries on our hands. That being said, at what point do you go see a doctor for your injuries? While you wouldn’t go to a specialist if you get a papercut or scrape your hand, what if you have a larger cut or laceration? When trying to determine if you should seek help from a specialist for a hand injury, look for concerning symptoms such as tingling, a ragged or deep wound, increasing redness or pain, a medical condition that increases your risk of complications, and more. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that if you feel that something is off with your hand, or you can’t fix your wound with typical over-the-counter medications, then it’s a good idea to seek help from a professional, especially if you want to avoid any long-term damage.
Treatment for Hand Lacerations
If you determine that your hand injury requires assistance from a hand specialist, our certified specialist at The Vu Center is here to help. When you come into our Portland plastic surgery clinic, you can expect a full inspection of the injury from our team. From there, Dr. Vu will determine the best course of treatment.
Depending on the severity of the laceration, sutures may be required to close the wound. If there is muscle, nerve, or tissue damage to the hand, you may also require surgery to ensure that your hand will have full function once it is healed.
Recovery
While some hand injuries are minor and can be treated at home, others may be more severe and require the assistance of a trained professional. At The Vu Center, our board-certified hand specialist, Dr. Kim Chi Vu, can provide you with the expert treatment you need to help your injury heal and restore function to your hand. We use our hands for just about everything, and the last thing you want is for an injury to compromise how you live your life. If you have any questions or you would like to schedule a consultation regarding a hand injury, visit The Vu Center in Portland or give us a call.
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At The Vu Center in Portland, we want to ensure that all of our patients are happy and comfortable with each step of the procedure. We are here to support you, so if you have any questions or you are ready to schedule a consultation, give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you!