The wound closure device offers another option for controlling external hemorrhage. It is a clamping device that temporarily closes the wound edges to enable stable clot formation and mitigate further blood loss. It can be used with or without wound packing and hemostatic gauze for temporary wound closure and bleeding control.
It is best suited for wounds on the scalp, neck, or extremities but can also be used on some junctional wounds in the groin or axilla. The device can be applied quickly and can be removed and reapplied easily as needed in the prehospital environment.
For larger wounds or wounds with a cavity, more than one closure device and/or wound packing with hemostatic gauze before closure may be needed to control bleeding.