Cut, puncture or tear, as mode of injury or harm

**Definition:** The cut or puncture occurs when a solid organ or blood vessel or nerve is unintentionally lacerated or otherwise damaged during a surgical or medical procedure. The cut or puncture must not be required for the successful completion of the procedure. A perforation occurs when a hollow viscous, such as the bowel or urinary bladder, is injured during a surgical procedure such that the contents of the viscous leak into the surrounding tissues or space.

**Long definition:** The cut or puncture can be made by a scalpel, trochar, or any other device used to probe, separate, or hold tissues; or it can be made by manual manipulation of tissues. The cut or puncture must be considered unintended. That is it cannot be considered a required component of the procedure, for example, the femoral artery must be punctured in order to perform a catheterization. The cut or puncture must require repair. The cut or puncture may or may not result in significant loss of organ function.