Quote:
Originally Posted by Carruthers
... a savage looking scar on his abdomen. I have difficulty in squaring that sight with the Army category of ‘Simple flesh wound’.
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I believe the use of the term "Simple" in this context refers to the wound being entirely open (i.e. grazing wound), regardless of its size, rather than having an entrance; or, entrance and exit with cavitation.
Wounds that create cavities are much more difficult to prevent infection from setting in. Complications of infection give rise to secondary injury; so, those flesh wounds are labeled "Complex."
A complex flesh wound may not look like much, just a small entrance wound, until the its cavity is explored while a simple flesh wound with a large surface area may look gruesome.
Hope that helps.