Severe scrapes (avulsion injuries )
A scrape that removes all of the layers of skin is called an avulsion injury. Fat, muscle, or bone may be seen in a full-thickness avulsion injury.
Avulsion injuries heal by first forming new skin on the edges of the wound and then healing from the edges into the middle. The larger the wound, the longer it takes to heal and the greater the risk of infection.
Scraping off all the skin on the tip of a finger or a toe are common avulsion injuries. If you are able to recover the piece of skin that was scraped off, take it with you when you see your health professional. It will probably not be reattached, but it will give more information about your injury.
Avulsion injuries are usually treated in one of the following ways:
- Allowing the wound to heal on its own, growing new skin from the edges into the middle
- Stitching the edges of the wound together, if the wound is small
- Reattaching the avulsed skin
- Grafting skin over the wound
| Author: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC | Last Updated: June 30, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine | |
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