Wound Care

Question 1

What are the different types of wounds?

Answer 1

Pressure Ulcers
Burns
Diabetic Foot Ulcers
General wounds

Question 2

What are the classifications of general wounds?

Answer 2

Superficial
Partial thickness
Full thickness

Question 3

What is a partial thickness wound?

Answer 3

Involves the epidermis and dermis

Question 4

What is a full thickness wound?

Answer 4

Involves the dermis, subcutaneous fat and sometimes bone

Question 5

What are the different colour of wounds and how do we describe them medically?

Answer 5

Black - necrotic
Yellow/green - sloughy
Red - granulating
Pink - epithelialising

Question 6

What are the different phases of wound healing?

Answer 6

Haemostasis
Inflammation
Proliferation
Maturation

Question 7

What is the haemostasis phase of wound healing?

Answer 7

This is when the vessels contract, allowing a scar to heal

Question 8

What is the inflammation phase of wound healing?

Answer 8

This is when the neutrophils and macrophages get to work, autolysing any necrotic tissue.
Blood vessels dilate allowing antibodies, WBC, growth factors, enzymes and nutrients to reach the wound area. The wound now becomes hot, red, inflamed and sore. Signs of maceration must be monitored.

Question 9

What is maceration?

Answer 9

Dampness of the surrounding skin due to over exposure to moisture from the exudate fluid of the wound

Question 10

What is the proliferation phase?

Answer 10

This is when new granulation tissue starts to form. Angiogenesis occurs. A good sign of this is uneven and granular skin that does not bleed easily and is red/pink due to the epithelialisation. Dark red indicates poor perfusion, ischaemia and infection.

Question 11

What is maturation phase?

Answer 11

This is the final phase and occurs once the wound has close. Collagen type 3 is remodelled to collagen type 1. Blood vessels eventually reduce and the wound will become pale and more flat. This could take years.