A knee laceration is a cut to the knee with no skin removed.
A laceration or cut refers to a skin wound. Unlike an abrasion, none of the skin is missing.
A cut is typically thought of as a wound caused by a sharp object, like a shard of glass.
Lacerations tend to be caused by blunt trauma.
To treat a lacerated knee apply antibiotic ointment, and then cover the wound area with a sterile gauze bandage and first-aid tape.
Clean the wound area daily with soap and water and apply a fresh sterile bandage.
For a minor laceration, remove the bandage after a couple of days to promote healing.
When you skinned your knee you should first wash off the skinned knee with some warm water and soap and then apply some hydrogen peroxide or antibiotic ointment to the skinned knee.
You can also apply some petroleum jelly to the skinned knee to protect it from infection and help speed up the healing of the skinned knee.
A minor skinned knee may take one to two weeks to fully heal.
The wound is considered fully healed and no longer susceptible to infection once it's closed and any scabbing has fallen off naturally.
The area may continue to look pink or pale for several weeks longer.
It is normal for a knee scrape to ooze.
Once the scab forms, your body's immune system starts to protect the wound from infection.
The wound becomes slightly swollen, red or pink, and tender.
You also may see some clear fluid oozing from the wound. This fluid helps clean the area.
It's common to have small amounts of fluid drain or ooze from a scrape.
This oozing usually clears up gradually and stops within 4 days.
Drainage is not a concern as long as there are no signs of infection.
Signs that your knee scrape is infected are.
Yellow or green drainage from the wound.
Worsening redness near the wound.
Swelling or pain.
Red streaks around the area of the injury.
Heat radiating from the wound.
A large, deep scrape may take up to 1 to 2 weeks or longer to heal.
It's common to have small amounts of fluid drain or ooze from a scrape.
This oozing usually clears up gradually and stops within 4 days.
Drainage is not a concern as long as there are no signs of infection.
Serous and serosanguinous drainage are normal for the first two or three days.
But you should watch for signs that the amount of blood mixed with serum is increasing.
If this happens, see your doctor.
Paying close attention to a wound as it heals is vital.
When you get a scrape or an abrasion, serous fluid (which contains serum) can be found at the healing site.
Serous fluid, also known as serous exudate, is a yellow, transparent liquid that aids the healing process by providing a moist, nourishing environment for the skin to repair.
Most skinned knees heal within one to two weeks.
However, if you notice any signs of infection, contact your family medicine practitioner.
You should seek medical attention if the wound site swells, becomes red or hot, develops discharge or has a foul odor.
Use warm water and mild soap to gently clean around the wound and rinse the area well.
Try to avoid getting much soap in the wound.
Gently apply a thin layer of topical, antibiotic cream or petroleum jelly to the area.
Apply a gauze bandage, adhesive bandage (Band-Aid), or other clean covering over the wound.