Lecture 17: Lacerations and Wound Management Flashcards
Where is the skin thickness on the equine body
Mane and tail
Skin tends to be thicker with ___ than young horses
Older geldings
Skin is thicker at the ___surface of the legs than the __surface
Extensor, surface
Head, neck and body wounds heal better than wounds on __
Extremities
Prolonged healing in wounds of the extremities is due to ___ (4)
- Reduced vascularity
- Increased infection
- Increased inflammatory response
- Reduce regional temperature
Equine cleavage lines are parallel to ___
Predominant orientation of collagen fibers
Wounds that are parallel to ___have less tension
Cleavage lines/ langer lines of tension
When possible incisions should be made parallel to ___
Cleavage lines
Distal limb wounds are below the ___
Carpus tarsus
What is the most important step in wound therapy
Wound assessment
What are the steps in initial wound preparation
- Aseptic/sterile conditions (joints) vs simple clean technique
- Apply sterile water soluble gel to wound before clipping
- Clip hair over and around
- Rinse gel and hair from wound with sterile saline
- Explore wound
Debridement is an effective way to reduce ___within a wound and minimize ___
Bacterial load, necrotic tissue
What is the #1 choice for debridement
Sharp
What is the least traumatic debridement technique to tissues
Autolytic
What is a major disadvantage to sharp debridement
Once tissue is removed, can’t put that back
What is the least traumatic sharp debridement tool and should be used whenever possible
Scalpel
What are the two critical components for lavage
- Solution used
2, delivery
What solutions are used for lavage
Non-cytotoxic solution- saline, vetericyn, lacerum
How do you deliver a lavage
Need appropriate pressure and volume without pushing dither into wound—> use 19G needle or Catheter attached to 35mL syringe
What is a wet-to-wet dressing more effective at removing than gauze
Necrotic tissue and causes less damage to epithelial cells
What is a wet-to dry dressing
Dressing directly on wound bed is moistened with saline, rest of bandage is dry
Absorbent secondary layers pull fluid from primary dressing
What is a disadvantage to wet to dry dressings
Primary dressing often dries out between changes, when removed get non-selective debridement
What should chemical debridement be used for
Very contaminated wounds because not-selective
What are 2 chemical debridement agents
Hydrogen peroxide, hypertonic saline
What is a method of biological debridement
Sterile medical grade larvae/maggots
Larvae digest only ___tissue and ___, leaving healthy tissue unharmed
Necrotic tissue and pathogenic bacteria
Larval secretions also have ___effects and promote ___
Antibacterial, angiogenesis
What is autolytic debridement
Leave wound fluid intact with wound bed. WBC’s and enzymes from dead WBC’s affect only necrotic tissue, leave healthy cells intact, reduce bacterial count
Autolytic debridement can only occur in ___wounds
Dry
What is contamination of a wound
Presence of bacteria in wound without active multiplication or trauma to host
What is colonization of a wound
Bacteria are attached to tissue and multiplying but not necessarily causing trauma
What is an infection of a wound
Bacteria invade healthy tissue and actively multiply overwhelming host immune response
What is qualitative assessment of bacteria in wounds
Determine types of bacteria in wound, sensitivity testing, guides antibiotic decision
Sensitivity testing is especially important for wounds involving ___
Synovial structures
Antiseptics are effective against a broad range of bacteria but do not penetrate __and are unlikely to reduce ___in wound bed
Necrotic debris, bacterial populations
Antiseptics should be reserved for use on ___, not on ___
Normal skin surrounding wound, not on wound bed itself
Topical antimicrobial agents target __
Specific bacteria
Blood supply to wound surface is diminished in chronic infections so ___is required
Topical antimicrobial
In what stages are wounds best candidates for primary or delayed primary closure
Inflammatory or debridement phase, wounds that are clean or clean contaminated
What type of closure is used in new wounds that are clean
Primary closure
In primary closure the wound is closed ___ and using strict ___technique
Immediately, aseptic
Which closure provides the best functional and cosmetic result
Primary closure
Primary closure is acceptable for what types of wounds
Minimal tissue loss, minimal bacteria contamination and minimal tension
What suture patterns can be used to reduce tension
- Near-far-far-near
- Interrupted vertical mattress +/-stents
- Interrupted horizontal mattress +/- stents
To reduce tension use __diameter suture material
Large
Failure to obliterate dead space can lead to ___ which is excellent medium for ___
Hematoma/seroma, bacterial growth
What are some ways to close dead space
- Suture
- Meshing the skin
- Passive or active drains
- Pressure bandages
What is delayed primary closure
Wound is initially left open to allow for debridement and reduce bacterial contamination then closed primarily
When would you use primary for delayed primary closure
Primary when skin is thin and new wound, delayed when there is granulation tissue, thickening and lots of drainage