First Aid & Emergencies

Deep Cuts

Home treatment can be used to care for a cut that is not deep (superficial). A cut is deep if:

• The deepest part of the cut is not visible.
• The cut is more than 0.25 in. (6.5 mm) deep.
• Fat, muscle, tendon, nerve, ligament, or bone tissue is seen.

When there is a cut on the face, neck, chest, or abdomen, the depth of the cut is very important to determine whether medical treatment is needed.

Deep cuts are often caused from a sharp object piercing through the skin.

• Deep cuts that enter the chest or abdomen have an increased risk of infection, internal bleeding, and organ damage.
  • Deep cuts to the chest may cause difficulty breathing.
  • Deep cuts to the abdomen may cause the abdomen to become tender or rigid.
• Deep cuts in the neck may injure blood vessels or impair breathing.
• Deep cuts to an extremity may injure underlying tissues such as blood vessels, nerves, tendons, ligaments, muscles, joints, or bones.

When a deep cut has occurred anywhere on the body, watch for signs of shock.