Wound Flashcards
What is a wound?
A break in the integrity of the skin or tissue, often associated with disruption of structure and function.
What is the Rank-Modified classification of wounds?
It classifies wounds into tidy wounds and untidy wounds.
What are tidy wounds?
Clean-cut wounds caused by sharp objects like scalpels, knives, surgical incisions, or glass.
How do tidy wounds heal?
By primary intention, usually with primary suturing.
What are untidy wounds?
Wounds resulting from crushing, tearing, or avulsion, often containing devitalized tissue and vascular injury.
How do untidy wounds heal?
By secondary intention.
What are the classifications of wounds based on clinical appearance?
Bruise (contusion), abrasion, puncture wound, incision, laceration, avulsion, degloving.
What is a bruise (contusion)?
An area of skin discoloration caused by blood escape from ruptured vessels due to injury, usually blunt trauma.
What is an abrasion?
A minor wound characterized by the loss of the superficial epithelial layer.
What is a puncture wound?
A wound caused by a pointed object (e.g., nail, narrow blade) creating a small entry wound.
What is the classification of wounds based on involvement of underlying viscera?
Non-penetrating, penetrating, and perforating wounds.
What is a non-penetrating wound?
A wound that does not enter a body cavity.
What is a penetrating wound?
A wound that enters a body cavity (e.g., thoracic or abdominal cavity).
What is a perforating wound?
A wound that entirely passes through an organ or body cavity.
What are simple and complex wounds?
Simple wounds involve only the skin; complex wounds involve vessels, nerves, tendons, or bones.
How are wounds classified based on skin integrity?
Open wounds (incised, lacerated, crush injuries, penetrating) and closed wounds (contusion, abrasion, hematoma).
How are wounds classified based on duration of healing?
Acute wounds (heal in anticipated time frame) and chronic wounds (fail to heal in anticipated time frame).
What are causes of chronic wounds?
Poor circulation, poor nutrition, extended pressure on tissues.
Give examples of chronic wounds.
Pressure ulcers, venous leg ulcers, diabetic ulcers.
How are wounds classified based on depth?
Superficial wounds, partial-thickness wounds, full-thickness wounds.
What are superficial wounds?
Wounds affecting only the epidermis.
What are partial-thickness wounds?
Wounds affecting both the epidermis and dermis.
What are full-thickness wounds?
Wounds extending through the dermis into subcutaneous tissue or deeper.
How are wounds classified based on degree of contamination?
Clean wound, clean-contaminated wound, contaminated wound, dirty/infected wound.
What is a clean wound?
A wound with no break in aseptic technique.
What is a clean-contaminated wound?
A wound with no major break in aseptic technique.
What is a contaminated wound?
A wound with a major break in aseptic technique.
What is a dirty/infected wound?
A wound with pre-existing infection or significant contamination.
What is primary intention healing?
Healing where wound edges are brought together (e.g., suturing, stapling).
What is secondary intention healing?
Healing where the wound is left open to heal naturally by granulation, contraction, and epithelialization.
