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Often times these wounds are not very deep, usually only damaging the skin. However,
occasionally these types of wounds can be very deep, cutting into muscle tissue, tendons, or
major blood vessels. Damage to major blood vessels can cause life-threatening bleeding.

Incised wounds are caused by sharp objects and are usually longer than they are deep.

Treatment-Wash with clean water/Ice compression side areas/surgery

 Prevention
 Causes

Laceration is a cut in the skin, a common occurrence in sports. A laceration can occur
following contact with a sharp object, such as a piece of equipment or even a tooth, or from
a blunt force, such as an elbow during basketball.

 Risk Factors
Athletes participating in sports using equipment with sharp edges are at greater risk
of lacerations. Contact and collision sport athletes are also at higher risk. Lacerations
are commonly seen in ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, fencing, skiing, and
snowboarding.
 Symptoms
Symptoms of a laceration are immediate and obvious. Classifications are usually
based on the severity of the injury and include associated pain, bleeding, and
swelling. Other symptoms may also be present if underlying structures are injured.
These may include numbness or weakness if a nerve is damaged, or heavy bleeding if
an underlying artery is damaged.
 Sports Medicine Evaluation
Evaluation of a laceration includes determining the length, depth, and complexity of
the injury. Full evaluation of the wound often requires cleaning the area with fluid to
remove any debris and to make sure no foreign bodies are present. The structures
underneath the cut should be considered, as well as areas of cosmetic importance
(like the face) and any potential problems with healing.
 Treatment
Treatment will depend on the severity of the injury. Some small, minor lacerations
can be treated by simply covering the injury and allowing it to heal on its own. A mild
laceration that is not very deep and whose edges come together easily may be easily