Wounds

Abstract

In Lancaster 13% of the patients attending the Accident and Emergency department do so for the treatment of wounds. Although most wounds result from domestic accidents, involving knives, tin cans or broken glass, they are also inflicted by needles, lead pencils, thorns rusty nails and gardening implements. The fingers are most commonly injured at home, the face and scalp in road traffic accidents, whereas limb wounds frequently follow sport injuries. Industrial machinery and vehicles are responsible for many of the wounds that present as a combination of lacerations and crush injuries.