Basic wound management Flashcards
What are the 3 phases of wound healing (some overlap)?
Lag or inflammatory phase
Repair phase
Remodelling
What 3 components make up the repair phase of wound healing?
Connective tissue repair
Wound contraction
Epithelialisation
What local factors affect wound healing?
Wound perfusion Tissue viability - trauma, dehydration Fluid accumulation - haematoma, seroma Infection Mechanical factors - tension, motion, pressure
What systemic factors affect wound healing?
Impaired immune function - systemic disease, glucocorticoids
Neoplasia
What 3 factors are used to classify wounds?
Degree of contamination
Aetiology
Location
What are the degrees of classification for a wound?
Clean (no break in asepsis)
Clean-contaminated (minor break in asepsis)
Contaminated (major break in asepsis)
Dirty (abscess, foreign material, old traumatic wounds)
Give examples of wound aetiologies
Abrasion Avulsion Degloving injury Incision Laceration Puncture wound Burn
What is an avulsion wound?
Wound involving partial/complete tearing away of skin
What is a degloving injury?
Type of avulsion - extensive section of tissue torn away, severing its blood supply
What is the difference between an incision and a laceration?
Incision - sharp force trauma
Laceration - blunt force trauma
What are the two types of wound management?
Closed management
Open management
What is surgical debridement?
Surgical removal of dead/damaged/infected tissue
What is the purpose of surgical debridement? What should it be followed with?
To improve the healing of the remaining healthy tissue
Lavage
What is the purpose of wound lavage/irrigation?
Remove debris
Decrease number of bacteria
Prevent further contamination
A surgical drain may be required for wound closure. What is a surgical drain?
Tube placed during surgery to allow drainage of pus/blood/fluid
What are the layers of dressing?
Contact
Padding
Conforming
Cohesive