Reaction to injury and trauma Flashcards
This is first aid.
Define injury.
Damage to the body caused by an external force.
Define trauma.
An injury with the potential to cause disability or death.
This is more severe than an injury.
What is the involuntary inflammatory response?
This is the initial response to injury and is automatic.
It causes:
• increased blood flow: redness at the sight of injury as a result of an increased blood flow and rupture of blood vessels around the sit of injury.
• increased metabolic rate.
• pain caused by pressure on the pain receptors as a result of accumulation of fluid.
• swelling (oedema) is caused by increased accumulation of tissue fluid around the sit of injury.
What is the proliferation phase?
This is where tissue repair takes place. This is the process of removing damaged tissue and any associated toxins or waste products.
This injury site is bridged by a clot, to help reduce blood loss and prevent pathogens entering the wound, and helps bind the edges of the wound together and creates scar tissue.
The growth of new tissue then replaces damaged tissue and replaces the collagen lost by the injury. Angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels) means the new tissue is suppled with blood vessels (vascularisation).
The new tissue results in the wound being remodelled as new connective tissue is formed.
What is the maturation stage?
The final stage of wound healing. There is a reduction in the vascularisation and the scar begins to fade. The collagen laid down behind to form cross links which increase the ability of the wound to resist pulling apart.
What order do the stages go in?
• Involuntary inflammatory response
• Proliferation phase
• Maturation stage (part of the P phase)
What are the responses to a greater severity of of trauma?
• loss of organ function
• bone structure deformity, damage or loss
• haemorrhaging
What is haemorrhaging?
This is bleeding when the skin is broken and blood vessels rupture and skin bruising caused by under the skin bleeding.
What is ischaemia?
This is known as ‘going into shock’.
It is the reduction of blood pressure following injury, excessive bleeding, severe allergic reactions or infection of the blood.
As a result of a fall in blood pressure there is a reduction in blood flow to organs or tissues - this is known as hypoperfusion or ischaemia. As a result less oxygen and fewer nutrients can be delivered to the tissues - this is known as circulatory shock.
