Wound care Flashcards
Week 5
What are the seven types of wounds?
- Incision
- …
What are the characteristics of an incision wound?
A linear wound, usually clean line with neat edges caused by a sharp cutting implement
What are the characteristics of a laceration wound?
Tearing or splitting of the skin usually ragged edges and caused by blunt force
What are the characteristics of a gunshot wound?
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
What are the characteristics of a puncture wound?
Penetrating wound usually small wound with underlying injury or foreign body present such as a knife
What are the characteristics of a haematoma wound?
Solid swelling which is a localised collection of blood outside the blood vessels
What are the characteristics of a contusion wound?
A type of haematoma where blood haemorrhages into surrounding tissues (also known as a bruise)
What are the characteristics of an abrasion wound?
Usually only superficial layers of skin are affected, caused by friction
What are the characteristics of a burn wound?
Injury caused by transfer of energy to the body’s tissues, e.g. heat, friction, electrical
What are the five types of burns?
- Epidermal burn
-Superficial partial thickness burn - Deep partial thickness burn
- Full thickness burn
- Full thickness burn plus
What are the characteristics of an epidermal burn?
Skin erythema (rash), skin still intact, e.g. sunburn
What are the characteristics of a superficial partial thickness burn?
Involves epidermis and part of the papillary dermis…
What are the characteristics of a deep partial thickness burn?
Involves epidermis, the entire papillary dermis down to reticular dermis…
What are the characteristics of a full thickness burn?
Involve the entire thickness of the
skin and possibly subcutaneous tissue…
What are the characteristics of a full thickness plus burn?
Involve the entire skin and sub-lying structures such as muscle or bone
What are the main three things to consider relating to wound care?
- Control bleeding
- Prevention of infection
- Prevention of further complications
What are the characteristics of an arterial bleed?
Under high pressure so can lead to significant blood loss bright red spurting (oxygenated) blood in time with the heart beat
What are the characteristics of a venous bleed?
Darker (de-oxygenated blood), lower pressure so does not spurt but flows freely, can still be severe if from jugular or femoral
What are the characteristics of a capillary bleed?
Carries oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, so the colour will vary presents as oozing
What sort of veins contain pressure similar to that of an artery?
Varicose veins
What factors affect blood loss?
- 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
What is degloving?
The complete removal of the skin on a finger or on the hand generally caused by a ring getting caught on something
What is amputation?
Full loss / separation of a digit or limb
What is a skin flap?
A wound generally caused by blunt injury often found on the lower legs on elderly patients where the skin comes away in part
