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First Aid & Emergencies

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Puncture Wounds - Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

If you any of the have the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

A cut that may need stitches, staples, or skin adhesives: Go to the topic Cuts.
Puncture wound caused by a bite: Go to the topic Animal and Human Bites.

Note:

If bleeding is the main symptom, see how to stop bleeding .


	Yes

Do you have a puncture wound in your head, neck, chest, or belly?


	Yes

Do you have a puncture wound that is bleeding?


	Yes

Are you unable to remove an object from the wound?


	Yes

Do you have signs of decreased blood flow at or near a puncture wound?


	Yes

Do you have any loss of function at or near the puncture wound?


	Yes

Do you have a puncture wound in your foot?


	Yes

Do you think you have an infection?


	Yes

Do you have swelling and bruising at or near a puncture wound?


	Yes

Are you unable to adequately clean a puncture wound using home treatment?


	Yes

Have you been stuck with a used needle?


	Yes

Do you know or think you need a tetanus shot?


	Yes

Do you have a puncture wound in your head, neck, chest, or belly (more than a superficial wound)?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have moderate bleeding that has slowed but not stopped after applying steady, direct pressure for 15 minutes?


	Yes

Do you have mild bleeding that has slowed but not stopped after applying direct pressure 3 times for 15 minutes each (45 minutes total)?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Are you unable to remove an object from a wound? Note: You may be unable to remove an object because:Of the location and depth of the wound.You are not sure about the depth of the wound.Removing the object will cause severe pain.


	Yes

Do you think an object is still in the wound and you are unable to remove it?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Is the skin below the puncture wound pale and cold to the touch?


	Yes

Do you have tingling, burning, numbness, or a "pins-and-needles" feeling below a puncture wound?


	Yes

Do you have severe pain below a puncture wound that is not part of the wound?


	Yes

Do you have decreased blood flow below a puncture wound based on the pinch test?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Are you unable to move your arm or leg normally (not because of pain) below the puncture wound?


	Yes

Do you have tingling, numbness, or loss of feeling below the puncture wound, not just at the site of the wound?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have a puncture wound that occurred when an object went through the sole of your shoe?


	Yes

Do you have diabetes?


	Yes

Do you have peripheral arterial disease?


	Yes

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?


	Yes

Do you have any other health risks?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have increased swelling, redness, or warmth around a deep wound?


	Yes

Do you have increased swelling, redness, or warmth around a wound over a joint?


	Yes

Do you have a puncture over a joint and increased pain with movement of the joint?


	Yes

Do you have red streaks extending from a wound?


	Yes

Is a wound over a joint tender to the touch?


	Yes

Do you have any drainage of pus from a wound over a joint?


	Yes

Do you have swollen lymph nodes near a wound over a joint?


	Yes

Do you have a wound over a joint and think you know or think you have a fever?


	Yes

Do you have diabetes?


	Yes

Do you have peripheral arterial disease and a puncture wound on your leg or foot?


	Yes

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?


	Yes

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the wound?


	Yes

Is the area around your puncture wound increasingly tender to the touch?


	Yes

Do you have pus in or around the wound?


	Yes

Do you know or think you may have a fever?


	Yes

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around a wound for 48 hours or longer?


	Yes

Have you had swollen lymph nodes near a wound longer than 2 weeks?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have severe swelling or bruising?


	Yes

Did a lot of swelling and bruising begin within 30 minutes after the puncture wound?


	Yes

Did swelling begin after a puncture wound to a joint area?


	Yes

Has swelling from a puncture wound (not over a joint) gotten worse after 24 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Have you had a moderate amount of swelling from a puncture wound for 2 to 3 days, but it does not interfere with normal function?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Is the wound too large or too deep to clean?


	Yes

Does cleaning a wound cause too much pain?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Have you been stuck with a used needle?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Were you cut by something clean and your last tetanus shot was longer than 10 years ago?Note: Something is clean if it does not have dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a broken water glass, a kitchen knife, or sewing scissors.


	Yes

Were you cut by something dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?Note: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a garden tool, a dirty nail, or a piece of glass that has been buried in the dirt.


	Yes

Are you not sure if you were cut by something clean or dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?


	Yes

Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?


	Yes

Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: September 16, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.