Cuts

Emergencies

Yes	Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment? Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.

• Signs of shock occur:
  • In children.
  • In adults and older children.
• Severe bleeding from a cut does not slow during the first 15 minutes of steady direct pressure.
• Moderate to severe difficulty breathing occurs with a cut to the neck or chest:
  • In children.
  • In adults and older children.
• Moderate to severe pain occurs with a deep cut to the abdomen.
• A cut to the eyeball or other part of the eye affects your ability to see.
• A cut amputates or partially amputates an extremity.

Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

• Puncture wound or injury caused by the injection of a substance under high pressure into the skin: Go to the topic Puncture Wounds.
• Injury from a bite: Go to the topic Animal and Human Bites.

Note:

If bleeding is the main symptom, see how to stop bleeding. Most cuts that require treatment should be stitched, stapled, or closed with skin adhesives within 6 to 8 hours after the injury. Some cuts that require treatment can be closed as long as 24 hours after the injury. Your risk of infection increases the longer the cut remains open. For more information, see are stitches, staples, or skin adhesives necessary?

Yes	Is your cut bleeding?
Yes	Do you have signs of decreased blood flow at or near a cut injury?
Yes	Do you have any loss of function at or near a cut injury?
Yes	Do you have broken skin over the site of a bone that may be broken?
Yes	Are you unable to remove an object from a cut?
Yes	Do you have a deep cut?
Yes	Has a cut removed all the layers of skin (avulsion injury)?
Yes	Do you have swelling or bruising at or near a cut injury?
Yes	Do you think you have an infection?
Yes	Do you think a cut may have been caused by abuse?
Yes	Were you unable to adequately clean a cut using home treatment?
Yes	Do you have a cut that may need to have stitches, staples, or skin adhesives?
Yes	Do you know or think you need a tetanus shot?

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

Go to previous section	Go to top of page	Go to next section
Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: June 30, 2006
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.