wound care (M 1-9: measurements, tissue types and staging, exam, diabetes, arterial, venous) Flashcards
integument – skin is
- the body’s largest organ
- 15-2-% of body weight
- surface area between 1.5-2 m^2 (~22ft^2) in the average adult
- thickness of 0.5-4 mm (average 1-2 mm)
- thinnest on eyelids, thickest on heels
functions of the skin
- protection/immunity: protects against pathogens, decreases water loss
- temperature regulation: provides insulation, related to dilation and constriction of blood vessels within the layers of the skin, allows for sweating
- sensation: contains various nerve endings, including for pain, light touch, etc
- assists in vitamin D synthesis, and indicator of vitamin B levels
anatomy of the skin - layers of the epidermis
- stratum corneum
- stratum lucidum
- stratum granulosum
- stratum spinosum
- stratum basale
- basement membrane
stratum corneum
- most superficial - acts as the primary barrier
- composed of soft keratin-containing, dead squamous cells, constantly sloughing or shedding
- 15-20 layers od ead cells
- can also indicate hydration - ashy skin means dehydration
stratum lucidum
- thin, clear layer od dead skin cells
- typically only seen in regions like the palms of the hands and soles of the feet
- areas of increased stress to the tissues
- function to reduce sheer/friction to epidermis
stratum granulosum
- layer that contains transition zone for the development of keratin
- becoming more active cells again
stratum spinosum
- layer contains “spiky/spiny” projections
- gives integrity, holds things together
stratum basale
- deepest and most continuous layers of epidermis
- typically 1-3 cell layers thick
- regenerates the epidermis: growing new cells, go up, slough off eventually
- contianing a variety of other cells, including:
- merkel cells - touch receptors
- langerhands cells - immune cells
- melanocytes - pigment production
- keratinocytes - produces keratin (fibrous proteins), antibodies and enzymes
basement membrane
- the layer that separates the epidermis and dermis
dermis
- the thickest layer
- primary functions
- thermoregulation
- storage of water/maintaining hydration
- provides nutrients and waste removal for itself and the epidermis
- also contains: blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, glands - sebacious, sweat, nerve endings, hair follicles, collagen
- papillary region
- bumpy surface that interdigitates with dermis, strengthening the connection
- influences the contours of the skin’s surface - finger prints
- reticular region
- contains collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers - provides strength, extensibility, and elasticity
- contains the roots of the hair, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, receptors, nails, and blood vessels
hypodermis
- subcutaneous tissue
- attaches skin to underlying bone and muscle
- contains loose connective tissue, adipose tissue, and elastin
- contains 50% of body fat
- provides insulation and shock absorption
- contains Pacinian cells and free nerve endings - cold and pressure
risk factors for wound healing
- comorbidities: CV, diabetes, SCI
- nutrition: malnutrition
- obesity
- smoking, alcohol/drug use
- sedentary or limited mobility
- impaired sensation
- risk-prone behavior - high-risk activities, exposure
extrinsic factors of wound healing
- shoes - condition and fit
- orthotics, prosthetics
- seating - cushions and positioning
- hairstyles
- vital signs and sensory testing
- other exam items: MMT, goniometry
how many people per year in teh US develop pressure injuries, associated with pain, risk for infection, increased health care utilization
more then 2.5 million people per year
diabetic foot ulcers have a mortality rate of []% and as high as []% after BKA
- 43-55%
- 74%
venous leg ulcers have a 6-month healing rate of []% and a [] recurrence within 5 years
- 45-70%
- 25-70%
patients > 45 YO have a prevalence of PAD (peripheral arterial disease) of []%
- 14.9%
primary intention
wound closure managment choices
- clean, straight line, edges well approximated with sutures
- rapid healing, usually best cosmetic outcome
- usually after surgeries
secondary intentions
wound closure managment choices
- larger wounds with tissue loss, edges not approximated, heals from inside out
- granulation tissue fills in wound, longer healing time, larger scars
- edges do not come together
tertiary intention (delayed primary)
wound closure managment choices
- delay is typically 3-5 days before injury is sutured
- used to manage infected or unhealth wounds, larger scar
- secondary with surgery to close: may be surgeon preference, may be due to other factors
wound healing: inflammatory phase
- start immediately with hemostasis and includes the innate immune system (inflammation)
- exposed collagen activates clotting cascade
- cytokines/chemokines and growth factors are released by resident cells and cells that migrate to area of wound
- neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages are essential:
- pathogen control: production reactive oxygen species (ROS)
- pathogen and debris removal: phagocytosis
- angiogenesis: PDGE, TGF alpha and beta, TNF alpha
- fibroplasia: interleukins, EGF, TNF alpha
- what you notice: local erythema, edema, tenderness
- main function is to remove debris, start healing cascade, and prepare wound for regeneration
wound healing: proliferative phase
- day 4 through several weeks
- fibroblasts are most important cell type: produces collagen to fill wound and provide support
- angiogenesis (neovascularization): capillaries “bud” from nearby vessels and grow into wound
- epitheliazation: epithelial cells from wound margins migrate across wound surface
- wound contraction: pulling of edges toward center making wounds smaller
- myofibroblast: contractile properties and collagen synthesis
- growth of blood vessels, deposition of collagen, formation of granulation tissue, epithelialization, wound contraction
- granulation tissue: new connective tissues into a space, red/pink, “beefy” looking
- epithelializing tissue: thin shiny over red, good
epithelialization
- epithelial cells migrate across the new tissue to form a barrier between the wound and the environment
- basal epithelial cells at the wound margin: multiply (mitosis) in horizontal direction, flatten (mobilize) and migrate into open wound
- basal cells behind margin undergo vertical growth (differentiation)
wound healing: remodeling phase
- up to 2 years
- collagen Type III replaced by Type I
- disorganized collagen fibers are rearranged, cross-linked, and aligned along tension lines (Langer’s lines - natural orientation of collagen fibers in dermis)
- wound may increase in strength for up to 2 yearss after injury (return to about 80% of natural strength, at day 14 have about 30-50% tensile strength)
- apoptosis – works to prevent keloids
wound healing: system factors
- nutrition/hydration
- diabetes
- peripheral vascular disease (PVD)
- GERD
- collagen disease
- end stage renal disease (ESRD)
- immunosuppression
- aging
- medications
- social/health habits
- functional status and activity level
- infection
- paresthesia
- perfusion
- incontinence
wound healing: local factors
- psychological function - stress, memory, anxiety
- hypergranulation
- tobacco use
- high bacterial burden
- biofilms
- edema
- pressure/friction/shear
- maceration/motion
- hyperkeratosis
- cellulitis
- nonviable tissue
- lack of growth factors
- cytokines
- matrixmetalloproteases (MMPs)
blanchable vs non-blanchable
- blanchable: reddened area that turns pale under applied light pressure
- non-blanchable: an area of redness that does not blanch under applied light pressure – more concerning for pressure injuries
abnormal: blue skin colors
cyanosis
abnormal: purple skin color
- deep tissue injury
- may be darker or gray in darker skin
abnormal: red color
- infection or inflammation
- could be cellulitis or dermatitis - raised
- erythemia - flat, shiny
erythema
- abnormal red color
- may indicate underlying infection
- indicative of Stage 1 pressure injuries if over bony prominence
- may be a 1st degree burn
abnormal: red skin with covid
- pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome (PMIS) – purplish lesions on toes and feet, rash
- Covid toes
- Coronavirus rash
abnormal: red skin colors indicative of other issue
- bulls-eye rash: Lyme disease
- rashes - drugs
other abnormal skin colors
- white: reynaud’s, dully ashy/gray in darker skin
- black: necrosis, gangrene
- yellow: jaundice, visible in eyes (liver disease, hemolytic disease
- hemosiderin staining: mostly in LEs, red/rusty brown or brownish purple, usually in gaiter area (socks), common in chronic venous insufficiency (starts distal and moves proximally
petechiae, purpura, and ecchymoses differences
- petechia: small (1-2 mm; < 3 mm), red or purple spot on the skin
- purpura: > 3 mm
- ecchymosis: > 1 cm, commonly called a bruise
- all do not blanch with pressure
edema
- excess fluid in interstitial tissue
- can be multi-factorial in cause
- impedes healing regardless of etiology
- extent and type of edema helps identify wound etiology
localized edema
- sign of infection
- result of inflammatory response in the immediate wound area
unilateral edema
- can be indicative of venous insufficiency, DVT, lymphatic blockage
bilateral edema
- probably more central body cause – heart failure
pitting edema
edema - induration
- orange-peel texture
- more chronic edema