Lacerations

Everyone experiences lacerations occasionally, but if your cut won’t stop bleeding or looks infected, seek treatment. At Durango Urgent Care in Durango, Colorado, board-certified emergency medicine specialist Kimberlee Yeargin, MD, provides same-day treatment for lacerations, including sutures and stitches. Make your appointment with the online booking tool, walk in during normal business hours, or call the office today.

What are lacerations?

A laceration is a cut or tear in your skin that occurs due to an impact or trauma. Some lacerations are superficial and only affect the skin, while others extend several layers, damaging the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

If you experience a laceration that’s painful or bleeding and it doesn’t improve with at-home treatments, like first-aid, visit Durango Urgent Care immediately.

What are the symptoms of lacerations?

The symptoms of lacerations include:

• A deep gash or cut in the skin
• Excessive bleeding that doesn’t improve with pressure
• A wound that reveals muscles, tendons, or other soft tissues beneath the skin
• Open wounds more than half an inch in length

Even minor cuts may require emergency intervention. That’s especially true if you take blood-thinning medication.

If I experience a laceration, what steps should I take?

If you experience a laceration, stop whatever you’re doing and apply gentle pressure with a clean rag or a washcloth. If you’re near a sink or a first-aid kit, carefully rinse the cut in warm water or with an antiseptic wipe, removing any dirt or debris. Reapply the cloth with light pressure and contact Durango Urgent Care.

How are lacerations diagnosed?

To diagnose a laceration, your Durango Urgent Care provider asks about your symptoms and examines the wound. They check its size, location, and color and collect a sample of tissue to see if there’s an infection. Your provider might also order X-rays or an MRI to see how far the wound extends beneath your skin.

How are lacerations treated?

Treatment of lacerations depends on various factors, including the wound’s location, size, and severity. Your Durango Urgent Care provider might recommend:

• Stitches or sutures to repair your skin
• Oral antibiotics to prevent infection
• Pain medication to increase your comfort
• Antibiotic ointments or creams
• Debridement to remove dead or diseased tissue
• Surgery to repair blood vessels

If there’s visible scarring or tissue damage, you might also benefit from a skin graft. A skin graft takes healthy tissue from another part of your body and stretches it over a laceration to minimize scarring.

To receive treatment for lacerations, make an appointment at Durango Urgent Care by calling the office or booking online today.