Deep cuts need to be closed properly and quickly — usually within a few hours — to heal cleanly and avoid infection. Our physicians handle everything from a kitchen laceration to a puncture wound or animal bite.
Symptoms to watch for
- Bleeding that will not stop with pressure
- A cut deep enough to expose fat or muscle
- Gaping wound edges
- Numbness or loss of movement
- Debris in the wound
Come to the ER immediately if
- Bleeding that will not stop after ten minutes of pressure
- Deep or gaping wounds
- Animal or human bites
- Puncture wounds from a nail or dirty object
How we treat cuts & wounds
Thorough wound irrigation, stitches, staples or medical adhesive, tetanus vaccination, X-ray if a foreign body is suspected, and antibiotics when the risk of infection is high.
This page is general health information, not medical advice. If you believe you are having a life-threatening emergency, call 911.