How to Treat Deep Cuts

Deep cuts can be caused by sharp objects that injure the skin, including something as simple as the corner of a wall or a cutting tool like a knife. Regardless of the cause, a deep cut is often painful, bleeds profusely, and may require emergency medical attention. If you, or someone else has a deep cut, you need to consider the danger of the wound and then act immediately.

Table of Contents

Review of Wounds

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Check the wound. If you see fat, muscle, or bone through the cut, or if the cut is wide and open, you will likely need stitches. If you are unsure, you should go to a health station or hospital to get checked. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Signs that the wound needs immediate treatment include: severe pain, bleeding, signs of anaphylaxis (such as the skin becoming cold and sweaty, feeling cold or turning pale).
A deep cut is when you can see fat (yellow budding), muscle (deep red, fibrous tissue) or bone (hard, ivory-white surface). ^{[2] X Research Source}
If the cut doesn’t go deep through the skin, you don’t need stitches and can take care of it yourself at home.

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First aid for serious injuries before seeing a doctor. If you think a cut needs emergency treatment, there are a few things you need to do before moving. Quickly rinse the wound under running water to remove dirt. Next, apply pressure to the wound with a clean towel or gauze and continue to apply pressure while traveling to the emergency room.

The wound will be cleaned again when you see your doctor to make sure it’s thoroughly disinfected.
If the wound is large and bleeding heavily, cover the wound with a towel or medical gauze, then continue to hold with pressure. ^{[3] X Research Sources}^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Do not try to clean or seal the wound with tools you have at home. Do not try to remove any objects that do not come out of the wound when washing. If glass or other shards get stuck in the wound, you can make it worse by removing it yourself. Besides, do not try to sew or seal the wound because home tools can cause inflammation, making it difficult for the wound to heal. Do not use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or iodine to clean the cut, as it can slow healing. ^{[5] X Research Sources}^{[6] X Research Sources}

Treating Deep But Not Serious Cuts

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Clean the cut. Wash with soap and water for at least 5-10 minutes. Any soap and clean water is fine. The study said there was no big difference when using hydrogen peroxide or antibacterial soap to clean cuts.

It is important that you wash the wound thoroughly. If there is dirt, glass or other object in the cut that cannot be easily cleaned, or if the wound is caused by a contaminated and rusty object, or by an animal bite, you should see a doctor. ^{[7] X Research Sources}^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Hold with pressure to stop bleeding. After cleaning the wound, press a clean towel or medical gauze over the wound for at least 15 minutes. You can also slow blood loss by holding the cut higher than where your heart is.

If the cut continues to bleed, see your doctor. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Bandage. Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment and cover with a medical bandage. Keep the wound dry and clean by changing the dressing 1-2 times per day until the wound heals.

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Watch to see if the wound is infected. When you see signs of infection, see your doctor. Signs include a burning sensation or redness around the wound, pus draining from the wound, increased pain, or a fever.

Treating Serious Deep Cuts

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Call or have someone call an ambulance. Have someone with expertise take a look at it as quickly as possible. If you and the injured person are alone, you need to stop the bleeding before seeking help.

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Wear gloves when you care for others. Isolate the blood of the injured person from your own is very important. Medical gloves will help protect you from the transmission of diseases from the blood of others.

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Check the severity of the wound and the patient’s response to the wound. In addition, check breathing and blood circulation. Ask the patient to lie down or sit if possible to let them rest and relax.

Check the wound for problems. Cut clothing (if necessary) so that the wound can be seen clearly.

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Assess the danger of the injury to life. If the wound on the arm or leg is bleeding profusely, ask the patient to raise the organ. Hold the position until the bleeding stops.

Anaphylaxis can also be life-threatening. If the patient is in shock, keep the patient warm and help the patient relax.
Do not pick up any objects such as glass shards yourself, unless you have been trained to do so; because it can cause a lot of blood loss if the object is a hemostatic.

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Bandage the cut. Place a clean medical gauze pad over the cut and gently press it directly.

You can use a bandage made of cloth if you don’t have a band-aid. If you have a bandage, use it to wrap around the wound. Don’t make the bandage too tight, make sure you can thread two fingers into the bandage.

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If blood seeps through the first layer, apply another layer. Do not try to remove the first layer of dressing as it may affect the wound.

Do not remove the first bandage as it helps to retain the already clotted layer of blood, preventing further bleeding.

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Monitor the patient’s breathing and blood circulation. Reassure the patient while waiting for help (in severe cases) or until bleeding stops (less severe cases). Call 911 if the cut is severe and/or does not stop bleeding.

Describe the person’s trauma when you call 911. This will help the emergency team be better prepared to respond as soon as they arrive at the scene.

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Let medical staff treat the wound. For example, if the cut is deep or infected, you will need a tetanus shot. Tetanus is a serious infection that can lead to paralysis and death if left untreated. Many people get tetanus shots and boosters as part of their healthcare routine every few years.

If your wound was caused by a contaminated or rusty object, a booster shot is important to avoid infection. See your doctor to see if you need an injection! ^{[10] X Research Source}

Care of Stitches and Clamps

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Serious wounds that require stitches or staples by medical personnel. If the cut is deep, wide, or open, the doctor will decide to sew (also known as sutures) or attach forceps to help the wound heal. When the doctor stitches the wound or attaches forceps, they will wash the cut and inject a numbing medicine around the wound. After stitches, the doctor will bandage the cut. ^{[11] X Research Source}

The doctor will use a sterile medical needle and thread to sew the edge of the cut together. These are either self-dissolving after a while or non-dissolvable and must be removed when the wound heals.
Closure staples are special surgical staples similar to sutures and must be removed as if they were non-dissolvable sutures. ^{[12] X Research Source}

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Proper wound care. Caring for a wound that has been sutured and stapled is important for healing and infection-free. To do so, you should: ^{[13] X Research Sources}

Keep stitches or staples dry and bandaged daily. Your doctor will tell you how long to keep. It will usually be 1-3 days depending on the type of thread and the size of the wound.
When wetting the wound, gently wash the entire stitch or staple with soap and water. Do not immerse the wound in water, like when bathing or swimming. Too much water will slow healing and cause infection.
After washing, pat dry with water and apply antibiotic ointment. Cover the wound with gauze or follow your doctor’s instructions.

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Avoid activities or sports that may affect the wound for at least 1-2 weeks. Your doctor will tell you how long you should stop. The stitches can tear, leaving the wound open again. See your doctor if that happens.

See your doctor right away if you have signs of an infection (eg, fever, redness, swelling, discharge).

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See your doctor when the wound heals. The thread will not dissolve and the staple will be removed in 5-14 days. Once the thread or staples have been removed, you should protect the scar from the sun with sunscreen or cover it with clothing. Ask your doctor to recommend a topical cream for scar healing. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Creams containing vitamin E or silica can reduce keloid formation (red and raised bumps) after a serious wound heals.

Steps

Review of Wounds

Treating Deep But Not Serious Cuts

Treating Serious Deep Cuts

Care of Stitches and Clamps

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