Integumentary System Flashcards
The integumentary system
- is the body’s largest organ consisting of stratified dermal and epidermal layers, hair follicles, nails, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands
Superficial burn
- involves only the outer epidermis
- the involved area may be red with slight edema
- healing occurs without peeling or evidence of scarring in two to five days
superficial partial-thickness burn
- involves the epidermis and the upper portion of the dermis
- the involved area may be extremely painful and exhibit blisters
- healing occurs with minimal to no scarring in 5-21 days
deep partial thickness burn
- involves complete destruction of the epidermis and the majority of the dermis
- the involved area may appear to be discolored with broken blisters and edema
- damage to nerve endings may result in only moderate levels of pain
- hypertrophic or keloid scarring may occur
- in the absence of infection, healing will occur in 21-35 days
full thickness burn
- involved complete destruction of the epidermis and dermis along with partial damage to the subcutaneous fat layer.
- the involved area typically presents with eschar formation and minimal pain
- Pt with full-thickness burns require grafts and are susceptible to infection
- healing time varies significantly with smaller areas healing in a matter of weeks, with or without grafting, and larger areas requiring grafting and potentially months to heal
subdermal burn
- involves the complete destruction of teh epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue.
- may involve muscle and bone and as a result, often require multiple surgical interventions and extensive healing time
Anticipated Deformities Based on burn location
- anterior neck
- anticipated deformity: flexion with possible lateral flexion
- splinting: soft collar,molded collar, philadephia collar
Anticipated Deformities Based on burn location
- anterior chest and axilla
- anticipated deformity: shoulder ADD, Ext, and IR
- splinting: axillary or airplane splint, shoulder abduction brace
Anticipated Deformities Based on burn location
- elbow
- anticipated deformity: Flexion and pronation
- splinting: gutter splint, conforming splint, 3-point splint, air splint
Anticipated Deformities Based on burn location
- hand and wrist
- Anticipated deformity: ext or hyperextension of the MCP joints; flexion of the IP joints; ADD and flexion of the thumb; flexion of the wrist
splinting: wrist splint, thumb spica splint, palmar or dorsal extension splint
Anticipated Deformities Based on burn location
- Hip
Anticipated deformities: flexion and ADD
-splint: anterior hip spica, ABD splint
Anticipated Deformities Based on burn location
-knee
- anticipated deformity: flexion
splint: conforming splint, 3 point splint, air splint
Anticipated Deformities Based on burn location
-ankle
- anticipated deformity: PF
splint: posterior foot drop splint, posterior ankle conforming splint, anterior ankle conforming splint
selective debridement
- involves the removal of only noviable tissues from a wound
- selective debridement is most often performed by sharp debridement, enzymatic debridement or autolytic debridement
sharp debridement
- requires the use of a scalpel, scissors and/or forceps to selectively remove devitalized tissue, foreign material or debris from a wound
- sharp debridement is most often used for wounds with large amts of thick, adherent, necrotic tissue; however, it may also be used in the presence of cellulitis or sepsis
- sharp debridement is the most expedient form of removing necrotic tissue
- PT are permitted to perform sharp, selective debridement as a procedural intervention
enzymatic debridement
- refers to the topical application of an enzymatic preparation to necrotic tissue
- enzymatic debridement can be used on infected and non-infected wounds with necrotic tissue
- this type of debridement may be used for wounds that have not responded to autolytic debridement or in conjunction with other debridement techniques
- enzymatic debridement can be slow to establish a clean wound bed and should be discontinued once devitalized tissue is removed to avoid damage to adjacent healthy tissue
autolytic debridement
- refers to the use of the body’s own mechanisms to remove nonviable tissue
- common methods of autolytic debridement include the use of transparent films, hydrocolloids, hydrogels and alginates
- establishes a moist wound environment that rehydrates necrotic tissue and eschar, facilitating enzymatic digestion of the nonviable tissue
- non-invasive and pain free
- can be used with any amt of necrotic tissue however, requires a longer healing period and should not be performed on infected wounds
non-selective debridement
- involves the removal of both viable and nonviable tissues from a awound
- often termed mechanical debridement
- most commonly performed via wet-to -dry dressings, wound irrigation and hydrotherapy
wet -to -dry dressings
- refers to the application of moistened gauze dressing over an area of necrotic tissue
- the dressing is allowed to dry completely and is later removed, along with any necrotic tissue that has adhered to the gauze
- wet-to dry dressings are most often used to debride wounds with moderate amounts of exudate and necrotic tissue
- this type of debridement should be used sparingly on wounds containing both necrotic and viable tissue since granulation tissue will be traumatized in the process
- removal of dry dressings from granulation may cause bleeding and be extremely painful
Wound irrigation
- removes necrotic tissue from the wound bed using pressurized fluid
- pulsatile lavage is an example
- most desirable for wounds that are infected r have loose debris
- many devices permit variable pressure settings and provide suction for the removal of exudate and debris
hydrotherapy
- most commonly employed using a whirlpool tank with agitation directed toward a wound requiring debridement
- this process softens and loosens adherent necrotic tissue
- PT must be aware of potential hydrotherapy side effects such as maceration of viable tissue, edema from dependent LE positioning and systemic effects such as hypotension
Alginates
- derived from seaweed extraction, specifically, the calcium salt component of alginic acid
- highly absorptive but are also highly permeable and non-occlusive
- as a result, they require a secondary dressing
- alginate dressings act as a hemostat and create a hydrophilic gel through the interaction of calcium ions in the dressing and sodium ions in the wound exudate
indications to use Alginates
- typically used on partial or full-thickness draining wounds such as pressure or venous insufficiency ulcers
- alginates are often used on infected wounds due to the likelihood of excessive drainage
Foam dressings
- comprised of a hydrophilic polyurethane base that contacts the wound surface and a hydrophobic outer layer
- the dressings allow exudate to be absorbed into the foam through the hydrophilic layer
- the dressings are most commonly available in sheets or pads with varying degree of thickness
- semipermeable foam dressings are produced in adhesive and non-adhesive forms
- nonadhesive forms require secondary dressing
indication to use foam dressings
- used to provide protection and absorption over partial and full thickness wounds with varying levels of exudate
- they can also be used as secondary dressings over amorphous hydrogels
advantages of foam dressings
- provides moist environment for wound healing
- available in adhesive and nonadhesive forms
- provides prophylactic protection and cushioning
- encourages autolytic debridement
- provides moderate absorption
foam dressing disadvantage
- may tend to roll in areas of excessive friction
- adhesive form may traumatize periwound are upon removal
- lack of transparency makes inspection of wound difficult
Gauze indications
- most readily available dressing used in inpatient environment
- are commonly used on infected or non-infected wounds of any size
- teh dressings can be used for wet-to-wet, wet-to moist or wet-to-dry debridement
gauze advantages
- readily available and cost effective short-term dressings
- can be used alone or in combiniation with other dressings and topical agents
- can modify number of layers to accomodate for changing wound status
- can be used on infected or non-infected wounds
gauze disadvantages
- has a tendency to adhere to the wound bed traumatizing viable tissue on removal
- highly permeable
- Requires frequent dressing changes
- Prolonged use decreases cost effectiveness
- increased infection rate compared to occlusive dressings
hydrocolloids indications
- dressings consist of gel-forming polymers backed by a strong film or foam adhesive
- the dressing does not attach to the wound itself but instead anchors to the intact surrounding skin
- the dressings absorb exudate by swelling into a gel-like mass and vary in permeability, thickness and transperency
- useful for parttial and full-thickness wounds
- the dressings can be used effectively with granular or necrotic wounds
hydrocolloids advantages
- provides moist environment
- enables autolytic debridement
- offers protection from microbial contamination
- provides moderate absorption
- does not require a secondary dressing
- provides a waterproof surface
disadvantages of hydrocolloids
- may traumatize surrounding intact skin upon removal
- may tend to roll in areas of excessive friction
- cannot be used on infected wounds
hydrogels indications
- consists of varying amounts of water and gel-forming materials such as glycerin. the dressings are typically available in both sheet and amorphous forms
- moisture retentive and commonly used in superficial and partial-thickness wounds that have minimal drainage
Hydrogels advantages
- Provides a moist environment for wound healing
- enables autolytic debridement
- may reduce pressure and diminish pain
- can be used as a coupling agent for ultrasound
- Minimally adheres to wound
- SOme products have absorptive properties
hydrogels disadvantages
- Potential for dressings to dehydrate
- cannot be used on wounds with significant drainage
- typically requires a secondary dressing
Transparent film indications
- thin membranes made from transparent polyurethane with water-resistant adhesives
- permeable to vapor and oxygen, but are largely impermeable to bacteria and water
- highly elastic, and allow easy visual inspection of the wound since they are transparent
- useful for superficial or partial-thickness wounds with minimal drainage
advantages for transparent film
- provides a moist environment for wound healing
- enables autolytic debridement
- allows visualization of the wound
- resistant to shearing and frictional forces
- cost effective over time
disadvantages for transparent film
- excessive exudate accumulationcan result in periwound maceration
- adhesive may traumatize periwound area upon removal
- cannot be used on infected wounds
Exudate Classification
- serous
- Presents with a clear, light color and a thin, watery consistency
- serous exudate is considered to be normal in a healthy healing wound and is observed during the inflammatory and proliferative phases of healing