Posts for tag: foot wound
Puncture wounds of the foot are a common and aggravating injury.
Puncture injuries happen when a (usually unprotected) foot steps on an object and that object cuts through the skin and into the foot.
The object usually has a sharp or pointed end, like a piece of glass or a nail. The bottom of the foot is the area most commonly affected.
These wounds can have serious complication such as infection.
The puncture, and an infection, can go all the way to the bone.
Therefore, is important to see your Podiatric Physician, or go to the emergency room after experiencing a puncture wound in the foot.
Most textbooks now recommend that the wound be seen and treated within the first 24 hours. This is because the object and the surfaces are dirty and can cause serious infection. We want to treat the wound quickly – before infection sets in.
Infections in the bottom of the foot are not to be taken lightly as they can quickly spread.
The object that was stepped on may become stuck in the foot as well. This is called a foreign body. If this is the case, then quick removal is even more important. The longer the object is in the foot, the greater the chance of infection.
We see splinters, toothpicks, glass, sewing needles as well as nails, plastic shards and even human and animal hairs entering feet.
Wearing shoes and socks is good protection but can complicate a wound, as shoes and socks are also dirty and harbor bacteria. Pieces of the shoe or sock can also be forced into the foot with the puncture.
For people with diabetes, it is even more crucial to be treated by a Podiatric Physician quickly. Many patients with diabetes have numbness in their feet, so it is possible to step on a nail or other object and not have it hurt much.
Also, some Diabetics do not fight infection well and must have antibiotics – the sooner the better.
Signs of infection to look for include pain, swelling, inability to walk, redness, pus or bloody drainage. This could lead to fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting. It may take a couple of days to see these signs, so it is better to get treatment early.
Your Podiatric Physician examines the puncture wound and determines how deep it goes. Dirt and objects are removed. The wound is well cleaned.
X rays are often taken to help locate objects (foreign body) and check the bone.
Sometimes in office ultrasound is utilized. Occasionally even an MRI is needed.
Antibiotics are prescribed.
Tetanus booster is needed if it has been years since your last tetanus shot.
We at Middle Tennessee Foot Associates have two offices and three Doctors available to treat these injuries.
We can most always get you into the office to see a Podiatric Physician the day you are hurt or the day you call.
Call us at 1-931-728-3988 if you have a question or need to be seen.