Skin Flashcards
What are pressure sores?
Pressure sores, also known as pressure ulcers or bedsores, are areas of skin and underlying tissue damage caused by prolonged pressure, shear, or friction, typically over bony prominences.
Pressure sores are also known as ________ or bedsores.
Pressure ulcers
What are common sites for pressure sores?
Common sites include the sacrum, heels, hips, elbows, ankles, shoulders, back of the head, and ears.
Common sites for pressure sores include the sacrum, heels, and ________.
Hips
What are the primary risk factors for developing pressure sores?
Risk factors include immobility, poor nutritional status, advanced age, incontinence, reduced sensation, and comorbid conditions such as diabetes or vascular disease.
Immobility, poor nutritional status, and ________ are key risk factors for pressure sores.
Incontinence
What are the four main stages of pressure sore classification?
Stage 1: Non-blanchable erythema of intact skin.
Stage 2: Partial-thickness skin loss involving the epidermis and/or dermis.
Stage 3: Full-thickness skin loss involving damage to or necrosis of subcutaneous tissue.
Stage 4: Full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle.
Stage 1 pressure sores present as ________ erythema of intact skin.
Non-blanchable
Stage 4 pressure sores involve full-thickness tissue loss with exposed ________, tendon, or muscle.
Bone
What are unstageable pressure sores?
Unstageable pressure sores are wounds covered by slough or eschar, making it impossible to determine the depth or extent of tissue damage.
What are deep tissue injuries in the context of pressure sores?
Deep tissue injuries are areas of intact or non-intact skin with persistent non-blanchable deep red, maroon, or purple discoloration due to underlying tissue damage.
Deep tissue injuries often present as persistent non-blanchable deep ________ discoloration.
Red, maroon, or purple
What are the key components of preventing pressure sores?
Key components include regular repositioning, use of pressure-relieving devices (e.g., specialized mattresses), maintaining good nutrition, managing incontinence, and conducting regular skin assessments.
Regular repositioning and ________ devices are critical in preventing pressure sores.
Pressure-relieving
How often should patients at risk of pressure sores be repositioned?
Patients should be repositioned at least every 2 hours to relieve pressure on vulnerable areas.
Patients at risk of pressure sores should be repositioned every ________ hours.
Two
What is the role of nutrition in preventing and managing pressure sores?
Adequate nutrition, including sufficient protein, vitamins, and hydration, supports skin integrity and wound healing.
Adequate ________ intake is crucial for skin integrity and wound healing in pressure sore management.
Protein
What types of dressings are commonly used for pressure sore management?
Dressings include hydrocolloid, foam, alginate, and hydrogel dressings, depending on the wound stage and exudate level.
Foam, hydrocolloid, and ________ dressings are commonly used for pressure sores.
Alginate
What are the key principles of wound care in pressure sores?
Key principles include keeping the wound clean, managing exudate, debriding necrotic tissue, and protecting the surrounding skin.
Wound care for pressure sores involves debriding necrotic tissue and managing ________.
Exudate
What are complications associated with pressure sores?
Complications include infections (cellulitis, osteomyelitis, sepsis), chronic pain, reduced quality of life, and delayed wound healing.
Infections such as ________ and sepsis are potential complications of pressure sores.
Osteomyelitis
What is the role of antibiotics in managing pressure sores?
Antibiotics are only indicated for clinically infected pressure sores and not for colonization without signs of infection.
Antibiotics should only be used for pressure sores with clinical signs of ________.
Infection
What factors can delay the healing of pressure sores?
Delayed healing can result from poor nutrition, infection, underlying comorbidities, inadequate wound care, and continued pressure.
Continued ________ and poor nutrition are factors that can delay pressure sore healing.
Pressure
How are pressure sores staged?
Pressure sores are staged based on the depth of tissue damage: Stage 1 (non-blanchable erythema), Stage 2 (partial-thickness skin loss), Stage 3 (full-thickness skin loss), and Stage 4 (full-thickness tissue loss with exposed structures).
Stage 2 pressure sores involve ________-thickness skin loss.
Partial
What is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)?
SCC is a malignant tumor arising from keratinizing squamous cells in the epidermis. It is the second most common type of skin cancer and can metastasize if untreated.
Squamous cell carcinoma arises from ________ cells in the epidermis.
Keratinizing squamous
What are the main risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma?
Ultraviolet (UV) exposure: Chronic or intense sun exposure.
Immunosuppression: Post-transplant or HIV.
Chronic inflammation: Burns, scars, or non-healing ulcers.
Actinic keratosis: Precancerous lesions.
Human papillomavirus (HPV): Particularly on mucosal surfaces.
Tobacco use.
Chronic ________ exposure is a significant risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma.
Ultraviolet (UV)
What are the clinical features of squamous cell carcinoma?
Firm, scaly, or crusted nodules.
May appear as non-healing ulcers or erythematous plaques.
Commonly located on sun-exposed areas (e.g., face, scalp, hands).
May bleed or become tender.
Squamous cell carcinoma often presents as firm, ________, or crusted nodules.
Scaly
What areas of the body are most commonly affected by SCC?
Sun-exposed areas such as the face, scalp, neck, ears, lips, forearms, and hands.
Squamous cell carcinoma is most common on ________-exposed areas of the skin.
Sun
How is squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed?
Diagnosis is made via skin biopsy, which confirms the presence of malignant squamous cells.
The diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma is confirmed by a ________.
Skin biopsy
What is the histological appearance of SCC?
Malignant squamous cells invading the dermis.
Keratin pearls (concentric layers of keratin).
Atypical cells with abnormal mitoses.
Keratin ________ are a histological hallmark of squamous cell carcinoma.
Pearls
What is actinic keratosis, and why is it significant in SCC?
Actinic keratosis is a precancerous lesion caused by chronic sun exposure. It can progress to squamous cell carcinoma if untreated.
Actinic keratosis is a ________ lesion that may progress to squamous cell carcinoma.
Precancerous
What is the primary treatment for SCC?
Surgical excision with clear margins is the main treatment. Other options include Mohs micrographic surgery, cryotherapy, and radiotherapy.
The primary treatment for squamous cell carcinoma is ________ excision with clear margins.
Surgical
What is Mohs micrographic surgery?
A surgical technique where the tumor is removed layer by layer, with each layer examined under a microscope until clear margins are achieved.
________ micrographic surgery is a technique used to achieve clear margins in SCC removal.
Mohs
When is radiotherapy indicated for SCC?
Radiotherapy is used for non-resectable tumors, in high-risk cases, or for palliation in advanced disease.
Radiotherapy for SCC is often used in ________ cases or for palliation.
Non-resectable
What factors increase the risk of SCC metastasis?
Large tumor size (>2 cm).
Depth of invasion (>4 mm).
Location on the lips, ears, or mucosal surfaces.
Poorly differentiated histology.
Immunosuppression.
Large tumor size and ________ differentiation increase the risk of SCC metastasis.
Poor
What is the prognosis for patients with SCC?
Prognosis is generally good with early diagnosis and treatment. Advanced or metastatic cases have a poorer prognosis.
Early diagnosis and treatment of SCC lead to a ________ prognosis.
Good
How can SCC be prevented?
Regular use of sunscreen (SPF ≥30).
Avoidance of excessive sun exposure.
Protective clothing and hats.
Routine skin checks, especially for high-risk individuals.
Routine use of ________ (SPF ≥30) is essential for SCC prevention.
Sunscreen
What is the role of follow-up in SCC management?
Follow-up is essential to monitor for recurrence or new primary skin cancers, typically every 3-6 months for the first 2 years.
