Wound care

Question 1

What are the seven types of wounds?

Answer 1

• Incision
• …

Question 2

What are the characteristics of an incision wound?

Answer 2

A linear wound, usually clean line with neat edges caused by a sharp cutting implement

Question 3

What are the characteristics of a laceration wound?

Answer 3

Tearing or splitting of the skin usually ragged edges and caused by blunt force

Question 4

What are the characteristics of a gunshot wound?

Answer 4

As it is caused by a projectile moving at speed, there is often a small entry wound and a much larger exit wound as well as significant internal damage, there is not always an exit wound

Question 5

What are the characteristics of a puncture wound?

Answer 5

Penetrating wound usually small wound with underlying injury or foreign body present such as a knife

Question 6

What are the characteristics of a haematoma wound?

Answer 6

Solid swelling which is a localised collection of blood outside the blood vessels

Question 7

What are the characteristics of a contusion wound?

Answer 7

A type of haematoma where blood haemorrhages into surrounding tissues (also known as a bruise)

Question 8

What are the characteristics of an abrasion wound?

Answer 8

Usually only superficial layers of skin are affected, caused by friction

Question 9

What are the characteristics of a burn wound?

Answer 9

Injury caused by transfer of energy to the body’s tissues, e.g. heat, friction, electrical

Question 10

What are the five types of burns?

Answer 10

• Epidermal burn
  -Superficial partial thickness burn
• Deep partial thickness burn
• Full thickness burn
• Full thickness burn plus

Question 11

What are the characteristics of an epidermal burn?

Answer 11

Skin erythema (rash), skin still intact, e.g. sunburn

Question 12

What are the characteristics of a superficial partial thickness burn?

Answer 12

Involves epidermis and part of the papillary dermis…

Question 13

What are the characteristics of a deep partial thickness burn?

Answer 13

Involves epidermis, the entire papillary dermis down to reticular dermis…

Question 14

What are the characteristics of a full thickness burn?

Answer 14

Involve the entire thickness of the
skin and possibly subcutaneous tissue…

Question 15

What are the characteristics of a full thickness plus burn?

Answer 15

Involve the entire skin and sub-lying structures such as muscle or bone

Question 16

What are the main three things to consider relating to wound care?

Answer 16

• Control bleeding
• Prevention of infection
• Prevention of further complications

Question 17

What are the characteristics of an arterial bleed?

Answer 17

Under high pressure so can lead to significant blood loss bright red spurting (oxygenated) blood in time with the heart beat

Question 18

What are the characteristics of a venous bleed?

Answer 18

Darker (de-oxygenated blood), lower pressure so does not spurt but flows freely, can still be severe if from jugular or femoral

Question 19

What are the characteristics of a capillary bleed?

Answer 19

Carries oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, so the colour will vary presents as oozing

Question 20

What sort of veins contain pressure similar to that of an artery?

Answer 20

Varicose veins

Question 21

What factors affect blood loss?

Answer 21

• Depth of wound
• Type of wound
• Size of wound
• Type of blood vessel damaged
• Medication e.g. blood thinners
• Duration of bleeding
• Position of the injury
• Age and size of the patient

Question 22

What is degloving?

Answer 22

The complete removal of the skin on a finger or on the hand generally caused by a ring getting caught on something

Question 23

What is amputation?

Answer 23

Full loss / separation of a digit or limb

Question 24

What is a skin flap?

Answer 24

A wound generally caused by blunt injury often found on the lower legs on elderly patients where the skin comes away in part