Arm cut

Description

Arm laceration or arm cut can be light and cover just the skin. But, also, it can be serious, with damages on tendons, nerves, and / or blood vessels. If the tendon is injured, weakness is felt in limbs (arm, wrist, hand, fingers) and with nerves being injured it comes to the numbness.

Symptoms

Pain, bleeding, weakness, numbness.

Overview

Anamnesis is being taken and physical examination is being done. X-rays procedure may also be done if there is a suspicion on the presence of foreign body, as dirt, wood or glass.

Tests

X-rays

Specialists

Emergency Care Service and Urgent Medicine

Therapy

The cut is treated with stitching. If it is necessary, tendons, nerves or blood vessels underneath the skin, are also being stitched. The arm injury should be healed within 12 hours in order to prevent infection. While waiting for the treatment, the wound could be rinsed with water and covered with gauze or clean fabric. The wound could be pressed to stop the bleeding. If the bleeding is abundant, you should go to a doctor. If the wound is dirty, the patient should have to take tetanus vaccine, if it is not received in last 5 years. If the wound is clean, tetanus vaccine is not necessary if the patient received it in last ten years.