stitches The overall treatment depends on the type, cause, and depth of the<unk> , and<unk> hether other structures beyond the skin (dermis) are involved. Treatment of recent lacerations involves examining, cleaning, and closing the<unk> . Minor<unk> s, like bruises,<unk> ill heal on their own,<unk> ith skin discoloration usually disappearing in 1–2<unk> eeks. Abrasions,<unk> hich are<unk> s<unk> ith intact skin (non-penetration through dermis to subcutaneous fat), usually require no active treatment except keeping the area clean, initially<unk> ith soap and<unk> ater. Puncture<unk> s may be prone to infection depending on the depth of penetration. The entry of puncture<unk>  is left open to allow for bacteria or debris to be removed from inside. Cleaning Evidence to support the cleaning of<unk> s before closure is scant. For simple lacerations, cleaning can be accomplished using a number of different solutions, including tap<unk> ater and sterile saline solution. Infection rates may be lower<unk> ith the use of tap<unk> ater in regions<unk> here<unk> ater quality is high. Cleaning of a<unk>  is also known as<unk>  toilet'. It is not clear if delaying a shower following a surgery helps reduce complications related to<unk>  healing.<unk>  cleansing solutions Evidence is insufficient to conclude<unk> hether cleaning<unk> s is beneficial or<unk> hether<unk>  cleaning solutions (polyhexamethylene biguanide, aqueous oxygen peroxide, etc.) are better than sterile<unk> ater or saline solutions to help venous leg ulcers heal. It is also uncertain<unk> hether the choice of cleaning solution or method of application makes any difference to venous leg ulcer healing. Closure A surgeon placing a suture If a person presents to a healthcare center<unk> ithin 6 hours of a laceration they are typically closed immediately after evaluating and cleaning the<unk> . After this point in time, however, there is a theoretical concern of increased risks of infection if closed immediately. Thus some healthcare providers may delay closure<unk> hile others may be<unk> illing to immediately close up to 24 hours after the injury. Using clean non-sterile gloves is equivalent to using sterile gloves during<unk>  closure. If closure of a<unk>  is decided upon a number of techniques can be used. These include bandages, a cyanoacrylate glue, staples, and sutures. Absorbable sutures have the benefit over non absorbable sutures of not requiring removal. They are often preferred in children. Buffering the pH of lidocaine makes the injection less painful. Adhesive glue and sutures have comparable cosmetic outcomes for minor lacerations <5 cm in adults and children. The use of adhesive glue involves considerably less time for the doctor and less pain for the person. The<unk>  opens at a slightly higher rate but there is less redness. The risk for infections (1.1%) is the same for both. Adhesive glue should not be used in areas of high tension or repetitive movements, such as joints or the posterior trunk. Split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) is also a surgical technique that features rapid<unk>  closure, multiple possible donor sites<unk> ith minimal morbidity. Dressings In the case of clean surgical<unk> s, there is no evidence that the use of topical antibiotics reduces infection rates in comparison<unk> ith non-antibiotic ointment or no ointment at all. Antibiotic ointments can irritate the skin, slow healing, and greatly increase the risk of developing contact dermatitis and antibiotic resistance. Because of this, they should only be used<unk> hen a person shows signs of infection and not as a preventative. The effectiveness of dressings and creams containing silver to prevent infection or improve healing is not currently supported by evidence. Alternative medicine There is moderate evidence that honey is more effective than antiseptic followed by gauze for healing<unk> s infected after surgical operations. There is a lack of quality evidence relating to the use of honey on other types of<unk> s, such as minor acute<unk> s, mixed acute and chronic<unk> s, pressure ulcers, Fournier's gangrene, venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers and Leishmaniasis. There is no good evidence that therapeutic touch is useful in healing. More than 400 species of plants are identified as potentially useful for<unk>  healing. Only three randomized controlled trials, however, have been done for the treatment of burns.
Wound
Soft tissue
Injection port
Coagulation
Body fluid
Biomedical tissue
Surgical instrument
Fluid compartments