Wound is an injury that occurs quickly.

• Based on level of contamination:
  • Clean wound, where it is made under sterile conditions where there are no organisms present in the wound, and it is likely to heal without complications
  • Contaminated wound, where it is as a result of accidental injury, where there are pathogenic organisms and foreign bodies in the wound
  • Infected wound, where it has pathogenic organisms present and multiplying showing clinical Sx of infection, where it looks yellow, oozing pus, having pain and redness
  • Colonized wound, where it is chronic, and there are numerous organisms present, and very difficult to heal (i.e. a bedsore)
• Based on exposure
  • Open wounds, including:
    • Incisions, caused by clean, sharp-edged objects like a knife, razor or glass splinter
    • Lacerations, irregular tear-like wounds caused by blunt-ish trauma. Lacs is shorthand for lacerations
    • Abrasions/grazes, superficial wounds where the upmost layer of skin is scraped off, often caused by scraping against a rough surface
    • Puncture, where an object puncutres the skin, such as a splinter, nail or needle
    • Penetration, where an object such as a knife enters and comes out through the other side
    • Gunshot, caused by bullet (or other projectile) driving into or through the body
  • Closed wounds, including:
    • Hematoma, including petechiae, purpura and ecchymosis
    • Crush, where a great/extreme force is applied over a long period of time

• Surgical incision