Home Treatment for Puncture Wound

Nails, pins, tacks, and other sharp objects can cause puncture wounds of the skin. Since puncture wounds rarely need stitches, it is important to ask the following questions:

• Are there underlying tissues injured?
• Is anything (dirt or object) left in the wound?
• Does the victim need a tetanus shot?

Most minor puncture wounds involve the extremities (arms, hands, legs and feet). A deep puncture elsewhere on the body could cause internal injury that is not obvious, so call the doctor for advice. A puncture wound on the hand can be serious if it gets infected. Call the doctor for a wound on hand unless it is very minor.The following are signs of  serious injury and requires emergency care:

1. Blood pumping vigorously from the wound – possible injured artery
2. Numbness or tingling in the limb beyond the wound – possible injured nerves
3. Difficulty moving the limb beyond the wound – possible injured tendon

The following are signs of infection which usually takes 24 hours to develop:

1. Fever
2. Extensive redness
3. The formation of thick, yellowish pus
4. Swelling of the area around the wound

Home Treatment for Puncture Wound

• Don’t apply pressure to the wound unless it bleeds heavily or pumps in a way suggesting an artery has been injured.
• Let the wound bleed as much as possible to remove foreign material.
• Clean the wound with soap and water or 3%hydrogen peroxide.
• Soak the wound in warm water or a baking soda solution several times a day for 4 to 5 days. (This helps the skin puncture open so that germs or foreign debris can drain from it)
• Seek medical care if you see signs of infection as mentioned above or if the wound has not healed after two weeks.
• Make sure to be immunized against tetanus
  

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