Wound Flashcards
Q: What is the definition of a wound?
A: A wound is a break in tissue continuity.
Q: What are the two layers of the skin?
A:
- Epidermis: The outer layer composed of keratinized stratified squamous epithelium with five layers (stratum basale, spinosum, granulosum, lucidum, corneum).
- Dermis: The inner layer, arranged in the papillary and reticular zones, containing connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves.
Q: What are the functions of the skin?
A:
1. Protection against physical, mechanical, and biological trauma.
2. Thermoregulation.
3. Metabolism.
4. Appearance.
Flashcard 4
Q: What are the types of acute wounds?
A:
1. Contusions and bruises: Result from blunt trauma with internal bleeding and hematoma formation.
2. Abrasive wounds: Superficial, involving the epidermis and outer dermis.
3. Incision wounds: Depth is less than the length, caused by sharp instruments.
4. Penetrating wounds: Depth is greater than the surface length.
5. Laceration wounds: Multiple, often parallel and oblique in direction.
6. Crush wounds: Caused by trauma with heavy objects, resulting in deeper tissue damage.
7. Avulsion wounds: Involve separation or loss of tissue.
8. Bite wounds: Can be from insects, animals, or humans. Human bites are more contaminating than animal bites.
Q: What are the types of chronic wounds?
A:
- Leg and foot ulcers (e.g., varicose, infective, diabetic, ischemic).
- Pressure ulcers.
- Malignant ulcers.
- Chronic discharging sinuses and fistulas.
Q: What are the clinical features of wounds?
A:
1. Pain.
2. Bleeding.
3. Deformities.
4. Signs of inflammation (swelling, redness, hotness, tenderness).
5. Deeper tissue injury manifestations.
Q: What are the steps in wound healing?
A:
1. Inflammatory phase (0-4 days): Vasoconstriction followed by vasodilation, leading to redness, swelling, and heat. Platelets, neutrophils, and macrophages play a role in this phase.
2. Proliferative phase (5-21 days): Granulation tissue forms, with collagen fibers being deposited.
3. Remodeling phase (21 days-6 months): Maturation of the scar occurs.
Q: What are the types of wound healing?
A:
- Primary intention: Wound margins are closely approximated, leading to minimal scarring.
- Secondary intention: There is a gap between wound margins, resulting in more granulation tissue and scarring.
- Healing of partial-thickness wounds: Characterized by less scar formation with epithelialization from wound margins.
Q: What are the factors that affect wound healing?
A:
1. Systemic factors: Nutrition, age, systemic diseases (e.g., diabetes, infections), trauma, and drugs (e.g., steroids).
2. Local factors: Site, size, shape, local circulation, infection, foreign bodies, trauma, and irradiation.
Q: What are the general management steps for wounds?
A:
1. History taking (cause, mechanism, duration, symptoms).
2. Clinical examination (local and systemic assessment).
3. Investigations (hematological, radiological, etc.)
Q: What are the steps involved in wound treatment?
A:
1. Hemostasis.
2. Cleaning (washing the wound).
3. Debridement (wound excision).
4. Wound closure (including repair of deeper tissue injuries).
5. Dressing to protect, immobilize, apply pressure, and absorb fluids.
Q: What is a scar, and what are the types of scars?
A:
A scar is the end result of wound healing, composed of collagen fibers and fibroblasts.
- Immature scar: Red, elevated, irregular, itchy, and tender.
- Mature scar: Pale or skin-colored, flat, and not painful.
- Hypertrophic scar: Elevated but does not extend beyond the wound margins.
- Keloid: Overgrowth of scar tissue that extends beyond the wound margins.
Q: What factors influence scar formation?
A:
1. Race: More excessive in black skin races.
2. Age: Less active scar formation in people below 2 years and above 50 years.
3. Site: Certain areas, like the presternal, shoulders, and back, are more prone to ugly and active scars.
Q: What are the treatments for scars?
A:
1. Reassurance.
2. Pressure garments.
3. Soothing agents and antihistamines for itching.
4. Silicone gel and sheets.
5. Steroid injections.
6. Laser treatment.
7. Radiotherapy.
8. Surgical revision (e.g., excision, grafting).
Q: What are contusions and bruises?
A: These result from blunt trauma, characterized by internal bleeding and hematoma formation, which resolves within 2-3 weeks.
