Examination of Patients with Open Wounds Flashcards
What are the 3 components to the physical therapy examination?
- Patient history
- Systems review
- Administering tests and measures
What are the goals of the physical therapy wound examination?
- determine the PT diagnosis
- identify factors that may contribute to ulceration or abnormal wound healing
- to assist with making a wound healing prognosis
When asking a patient about their medical history it is important to ask if they are allergic to what 3 things?
- latex
- sulfa
- adhesive
What is the normal total RBC count for women? And for men?
Women: 4.0-5.5 million/mm3
Men: 4.5-6.2 million/mm3
If total RBC count is low what may this indicate?
anemia or blood loss
If total RBC count is high what may this indicate?
dehydration or an increased risk for blood clots
What is the normal hematocrit for women? And for men?
Women: 38-46%
Men: 42-54%
If hematocrit is low what may this indicate?
anemia, blood loss, or malnutrition
If hematocrit is high what may this indicate?
dehydration or an increased risk for blood clots
What is the normal hemoglobin for women? And for men?
Women: 12-16 g/dL
Men: 14-18 g/dL
If hemoglobin is low what may this indicate?
blood loss or nutritional deficiency
If hemoglobin is high what may this indicate?
dehydration or an increased risk for blood clots
What is the normal total WBC count for both sexes?
4500-11,000/mm3
If total WBC count is high what may this indicate?
infection, inflammatory response, or anemia
What is the normal platelet (thrombocyte) count for both sexes?
150,000-400,000/mm3
If the thrombocyte count is low what may this indicate?
delayed clotting is a risk
If the thrombocyte count is high what may this indicate?
high potential for blood clots
What is the normal total lymphocyte count (TLC) for both sexes?
> 1800 cells/mm3
If the TLC is low what may this indicate?
decreased immune function, protein deficiency, delayed wound healing
What is the normal serum albumin levels for both sexes?
3.5-5.5 g/dL
If serum albumin levels are low what may this indicate?
malnourished, increased risk for tissue edema, metabolic stress or inflammation
Low levels of serum albumin are correlated with what?
pressure ulcer severity
If serum albumin levels are high what may this indicate?
dehyration
What are the normative values for serum prealbumin?
16-40 mg/dL
If serum prealbumin levels are low what may this indicate?
malnourished, metabolic stress, inflammation
Mortality rate increases as prealbumin _____.
decreases
What are the normative values for serum trasnferin?
> 170 mg/dL
If serum transferin levels are low what may this indicate?
protein deficiency or malnourished
If serum transferin levels are high what may this indicate?
iron deficiency
What are the normative values for blood glucose?
70-110 mg/dL
What may be high levels of blood glucose indicate?
poorly controlled diabetes
Should urine glucose testing reveal positive or negative values?
negative
If there is blood glucose in the urine what may it indicate?
kidney disease or poorly controlled diabetes
What are normative BUN (blood urea nitrogen) levels?
8.0-20 mg/dL
If BUN levels are high what may it indicate?
kidney disease or dehydration
High BUN levels are associated with what?
delayed wound healing
What are normative creatinine levels?
0.8-1.2 mg/dL
Increased levels of creatinine may indicate what?
kidney disease
Creatinine levels decrease with what?
malnutrition
How can you tell the difference between wounds caused by arterial insufficiency and venous insufficiency?
Arterial: pain with leg elevation
Venous: relief with leg elevation
What are the 4 main purposes of the systems review?
- helps the PT identify risk factors or impairments that may require referral to other disciplines
- allows the PT to identify risk factors or impairments in areas aside from the integument that may benefit from PT intervention to enhance wound healing
- identify signs and symptoms consistent with certain disease processes that may alter PT interventions for wound management
- the PT can determine patient and caregiver education needs