Wound care

Skin tear and traumatic wound care in St. Louis and Metro East, Illinois.

Fragile skin can tear after a fall, transfer or minor impact. Treatment protects any viable skin flap, controls bleeding and limits further injury to the surrounding skin.

Request care Refer a patient

What the clinician checks after a skin tear or injury

Cause of the injury and time since it occurred
Bleeding, tissue flap and wound depth
Contamination, pain and infection risk
Medications, falls, mobility and skin fragility

Other clinicians may be involved.

Primary care, urgent care, emergency services, surgery or home health may be involved depending on the injury and the patient’s overall condition.

Where care happens

Requesting care after a skin tear or injury

Gateway may evaluate and follow traumatic wounds in homes and care facilities when bleeding is controlled and emergency care is not required.

Provide the location, how the injury occurred, whether bleeding has stopped and what the skin and drainage look like now.