Types of Skin Injuries - Class 2 Flashcards
types of skin injuries
abrasions (erosion)
avulsions
burns
lacerations
surgical wounds
abrasion
superficial rub or wearing off of skin
what causes an abrasion
scrap or a brush burn
what does an abrasion affect
epidermis
an abrasion is a
minor injury
“skin your knee”
“road rash”
degrees of abrasion
first
second
third
first degree of abrasion
epidermis only
second degree of abrasion
epidermis and dermis
may bleed slightly
third degree of abrasion
damage to subcutaneous layer and skin
called an avulsion
how does an abrasion heal
epithelialization
depends on the wound depth and size
abrasion healing with epithelialization
resurfacing of wound with new epithelium
derived from wound edge and appendages
skin is regenerating
avulsions
tearing of the top layer of skin
usually caused by trauma
what is an avulsion
“torn flap of skin”
“loss of skin”
torn skin –> avulsion
may be lose or too damaged to be repaired
how does an avulsion heal
heals from edges inward and bottom up
duration of healing depends on severity of avulsion
what can be used to heal a wound –> avulsion
sutures if the wound isnt too wide
health skin flap
what may avulsions need
drainage tubes to remove underlying fluid
burns
tissue damage d/t heat, UV, radiation, chemicals or electricity
degrees of burns
first through fourth
first degree burns
superficial
affects epidermis
second degree burns
partial thickness
affects epidermis and part of dermis
how do second degree burns look
red, blistered and possibly swollen
third degree burns
full thickness
extremely painful
destroys the epidermis and dermis
affects the subcutaneous
third degree burn look
white
blackened
charred
fourth degree burns
burns through epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue
possible affects muscle and bone
fourth degree burns –> nerves
no feeling since nerve ending are destroyed
pts may not even feel it
lacerations
a wound where the skin and the underlying tissues are cut/torn
lacerations are often
irregular or jagged
lacerations may be
deep or shallow
wide or narrow
what may cause lacerations
skin hitting a sharp object or a sharp object hitting the skin with force
how can a laceration be healed
compression/bandage or may require stitches
surgical wounds
an incision through the skin that is made during surgery
surgical wound classifications
class 1-4
surgical wound class 1
clean
surgical wound class 2
clean/contaminated
d/t where surgery was performed
urinary, elemental, respiratory, bowel or GU system entered
class 3 surgical wound
contaminated
open wounds or break in sterile technique
class 4 surgical wound
dirty infected
old wound, unhealthy tissue, perforation in the viscera, infection
how can surgical wounds be closed
sutured
steri-stripped
stapled
glue
taped
skin ulcers
an open sore or wound that develops on the skin and will not heal or keeps returning
skin ulcers can be caused by
prolonged periods of poor blood flow to an area of the body
prolonged pressure
an injury
what can prolonged of poor blood flow result from
infection
immobility
conditions that affect blood vessels
types of skin ulcers
venous skin ulcers
arterial (ischemic) skin ulcers
neuropathic skin ulcers
pressure ulcers
buruli ulcers
stasis dermatitis
venous skin ulcers
shallow open sores
usually develop in the skin of the lower leg
result of poor blood circulation
poor blood circulation –> venous skin ulcer
lack of venous return back to the heart –> blood collects in the leg –> edema –> pressure on skin –> ulcer
where do venous skin ulcers usually occur
medial malleolus region
arterial skin ulcers
ischemic skin ulcer
arteries fail to deliver oxygenated blood to the lower limbs
fail to deliver oxygen –> arterial skin ulcers
lack of oxygen –> tissues die –> ulcers develop
where are arterial ulcers usually seen
outside ankle
dorsum of foot
feet and toes
neuropathic skin ulcers is a common complications
uncontrolled diabetes
uncontrolled diabetes –> neuropathic skin ulcers
d/t elevated blood glucose level –> damage to nerves –? person may not realize they have a small wound –> develop into an ulcer
where do neuropathic skin ulcers form
distal extremities
plantar aspect of the foot
neuropathies in distal extremities
when smaller wounds go undetected then worsen into ulcers
pressure ulcers
decubitus ulcers
caused by constant pressure or friction on the skin
where are pressure ulcers commonly seen
posterior head
sacrum
ischial tuberosities
elbows
heels
what can pressure ulcers affect
can develop deep and affect ligs and tendons
buruli ulcers
caused by mycobacterium ulcerans bacteria
where can buruli ulcers form
large ulcers on arms or legs
stasis dermatitis is a
precursor to venous ulcer
stasis dermatitis
not truly an ulcer
change in the skin that results from the pooling of blood in the veins of the lower leg
what is stasis dermatitis caused by
fluid build up d/t poor circulation, heart dz, or varicose veins
an ulcer can result from
stasis dermatitis
stasis dermatitis is more common in
women
people over 50
