It's not just a piece of glass... what should I do if I get a puncture wound?

Serena Williams, who won her fourth Wimbledon crown and 13th major title in July of 2010, has been sidelined due to a foot injury. But that injury was not sustained on the court... rather it was sustained when a piece of glass pierced her foot. She was in a restaurant in Munich when she said she looked down and noticed blood on the floor... and then saw shattered glass. She was wearing sandals and sustained an injury. Although she did go to the hospital and receive immediate treatment, other complications stemming from that injury have prevented her from getting back on the court. Nevertheless, it brings a good question to light...What should you do if you ever do get a puncture wound, whether it be a piece of glass, or a nail, or maybe you don't even know what it is?

Puncture wounds are not the same as a cut. A puncture has a small entry hole caused by a foreign object, and require different treatments from cuts because if left untreated, they may lead to serious injury or infection. Proper treatment within the first 24 hours is necessary because the longer you wait, the more chance for that object to become imbedded deeper into your foot, or may even cause infection. Get a tetanus shot if needed... know your tetanus status! This will prevent a serious illness caused by a specific bacteria that can affect the nervous system. It is imperative to see a foot and ankle surgeon within 24 hours, and follow her instructions, which may include her having to anesthetize, (or numb up with lidocaine/novacaine), the area and attempt to remove the object after taking a set of xrays to try and locate it. She may use sterile instruments such as tweezers to remove the object. If you feel that the object is no longer there but you know the skin was punctured, you should still see a podiatrist in order to make sure there is no local infection. If she determines that there may be, then you may be given an prescription for a course of oral antibiotics to prevent the infection from spreading.

So what can start out as a simple piece of glass can lead to other major problems if proper measures are not followed!... and then it is not just a piece of glass.