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Deep Cuts
Home treatment can be used to care for a cut that is not deep (superficial). A cut is deep if:
- The deepest part of the cut is not visible.
- The cut is more than 0.25 in. (6.5 mm) deep.
- Fat, muscle, tendon, nerve, ligament, or bone tissue is seen.
When there is a cut on the face, neck, chest, or abdomen, the depth of the cut is very important to determine whether medical treatment is needed.
Deep cuts are often caused from a sharp object piercing through the skin.
- Deep cuts that enter the chest or abdomen have an
increased risk of infection, internal bleeding, and organ damage.
- Deep cuts to the chest may cause difficulty breathing.
- Deep cuts to the abdomen may cause the abdomen to become tender or rigid.
- Deep cuts in the neck may injure blood vessels or impair breathing.
- Deep cuts to an extremity may injure underlying tissues such as blood vessels, nerves, tendons, ligaments, muscles, joints, or bones.
When a deep cut has occurred anywhere on the body, watch for signs of shock.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: June 10, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine David Messenger, MD | |
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