CLINICAL - Wounds Flashcards
What are the four phases of wound healing?
Inflammatory phase
Debridement phase
Proliferation phase
Remodelling phase
Which markers can be increased during the inflammatory phase of wound healing in horses?
Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9
Neutrophil elastase
What phase of healing is this equine wound in?
Debridement phase (phagocytic cells begin breaking down tissue)
What phase of healing is this equine wound in?
Proliferation phase
What phase of healing is this equine wound in?
Remodelling phase
List six local factors which can negatively influence wound healing
Poor perfusion
Infection
Movement
Foreign material
Fluid accumulation (seromas)
Tissue deficit
List five systemic factors which can negatively influence wound healing
Age
Neoplasia
Metabolic disease
Drugs
Nutrition
How can movement disrupt wound healing?
Movement disrupts granulation tissue and epithelialisation and increases tension at the wound margins
What can you do to reduce movement that would disrupt wound healing in horses?
Splints/casts
How does the presence of foreign material disrupt wound healing?
Foreign material is a focus for infection and prolongs the inflammatory response
What can you do to check for the presence of foreign bodies in wounds?
Radiography
Which five factors promote optimal wound healing?
Good perfusion
Moist wound surface
No surface trauma to the wound
Controlled infection
Non-viable and foreign material removed from the wound
What are the four classifications of wounds based on contamination?
Clean
Clean contaminated
Contaminated
Dirty
What are the seven Halstead’s principles that should be followed when surgically closing wounds?
- Gentle tissue handling
- Maintain normal homeostasis
- Maintain local blood supply
- Use aseptic technique
- Close tissues without tension
- Careful approximation of tissues
- Ensure no dead space
What are the four options for wound closure?
Primary closure
Delayed primary closure
Secondary closure
Healing by second intention
What is primary wound closure?
Primary wound closure is the immediate mechanical closure of healthy, viable, clean tissue that is not under tension
Which suture material is best for primary wound closure?
Monofilament nylon
Monofilament polypropylene
What is delayed primary wound closure?
Delayed primary wound closure is the delayed mechanical closure of the wound until just before granulation tissue formation to allow for open wound management
List four factors that will result in delayed primary and secondary wound closure
Wound contamination
Necrotic tissue
Swelling
Infection
What is secondary wound closure?
Secondary wound closure is the delayed mechanical closure to allow for open wound management and granulation tissue formation
Which classification of wounds should be closed using secondary closure?
Contaminated wounds
What is healing by second intention?
Healing by second intention allows the wound to heal itself following open wound management
Which classifications of wounds should be closed using healing by second intention?
Dirty wounds
Wounds with large skin deficits that cannot be mechanically closed
What is open wound management?
Open wound management is a method that allows you to prepare a wound for delayed closure or for healing by second intention through identifying and controlling infection, debriding necrotic tissue and preventing further contamination and wound damage
(T/F) Open wound management can be carried out in awake patients
FALSE. Open wound management should be carried out under heavy sedation/general anaesthetic
What are the four stages of open wound management?
- Carry out a wide clip around the wound
- Wound lavage
- Wound debridement
- Wound dressing
What is the purpose of wound lavage?
Wound lavage reduces bacterial contaimination, removes foreign material and rehydrates necrotic tissue to allow for easier debridement
What kind of fluid should you use for wound lavage?
Sterile saline or Hartmann’s solution
How do you set up for wound lavage?
Attach an appropriate bag of sterile fluid to a giving set. Attach the giving set to a three way tap attached to a 20 - 30ml syringe and 19 gauge needle
Which lavage technique is particularly useful in horses?
Hydrosurgical lavage