Wound Care (TOSCE) Flashcards
List the 2 types of wounds
Acute
Chronic
Describe acute wounds
-heal quickly (typically heal within 4 weeks)
Give examples of acute wounds
bites, scrapes, minor lacerations, punctures, burns
Describe chronic wounds
- fail to progress through normal healing within 4 weeks
- healing is delayed or impaired
Give examples of chronic wounds
- pressure ulcers
- diabetic ulcers
A normal healing process has __ phases
3
The 1st phase is called?
Inflammatory phase
The 2nd phase is called?
Proliferative phase
The 3rd phase is called?
Maturation phase
Describe the 1st phase (Inflammatory phase)
Begins immediately after hemostasis is completed
Describe the 2nd phase (Proliferative phase)
Begins to rebuild with new granulation tissue
Describe the 3rd phase (Maturation phase)
Also called the remodelling phase as the dermal tissue strengthens
Immune system rxn of inflammatory phase:
Complex process with multiple cells involved
Characteristics of inflammatory phase:
Starts at the time of injury and continues for 24-48 hours
Appearance of inflammatory phase:
Redness, edema, and production of exudate
Pain is associated with what phase?
inflammatory phase
Immune system rxn of proliferative phase:
Granulation tissue formed, wound contraction and new epithelium formed
Characteristics of proliferative phase:
Rebuilding phase which can last from 4-24 days
Appearance of proliferative phase:
Bright red tissue and raised
Scar tissue is starting to be formed
Maturation phase is referred to as the _____ phase
remodelling
Immune system rxn of maturation phase:
Collagen forms early scar tissue and continues to be deposited to increase strength of the tissue
Characteristics of maturation phase:
Starts approximately 3 weeks after injury and complete healing can take up to 2 years
Appearance of maturation phase:
Changes from pink or red to white
Factors that affect wound healing acronym ??
DIDNTHEAL
D = ?
Diabetes (decreased circulation, long term condition)
I = ?
Infection (prolongs inflammatory phase delaying healing)
D = ?
Drugs (steroids, ASA, anticoagulants, cancer meds)
N = ?
Nutritional problems (normal wound healing impaired)
T = ?
Tissue necrosis
H = ?
Hypoxia (inadequate tissue oxygenation)
E = ?
Excessive tension on wound edges
A = ?
Another wound (competition for healing agents)
L = ?
Low temperature (slower healing in extremeties)
When do you refer wounds?
- If they haven’t had tetanus immunization for a dirty nail injury
- Medical conditions that affect healing (diabetes, immunocompromised)
- Factors that delay healing
- Bleeding > 10 minutes
- Age (prob over 75 ??)
- Animal bite or human bite
- 2nd or 3rd degree burn
- Refer if wound is infected
- Wound > 2cm
- Lacerations on face or hand where edges do not fall together
- Wound is deep
- Patient is unable to move injured part
- Dirt and debris cannot be removed without scrubbing
Signs and symptoms of infection?
- redness extending from wound after two days
- pus or yellow discharge
- area around wound is red, swollen and warm to touch
- abnormal smell
Describe basic would care management
- Stop the bleeding
- Cleanse the wound
- Protect the wound
How do you stop the bleeding?
use a clean dressing or gauze to apply pressure to the wound for 10 mins
How do you cleanse the wound?
- remove dirt and debris
- wash wound with water
How do you protect the wound?
-apply a dressing to protect the wound and improve healing process
What is debridement and who can do it?
- removal of dead or contaminated tissue
- only done by a HCP
What is recommended for cleaning the wound?
- drinkable water
- normal saline
What is not recommended for cleaning the wound?
- hydrogen peroxide (may impair healing and cause tissue toxicity)
- isopropyl alcohol (may dry and irritate the skin)
- iodine (may irritate tissue and impair healing)
- povidone-iodine (may impair healing)
List some signs of skin infection
- localized erythema
- localized pain
- warm to touch around affected area
- drainage/pus
- fever
*infected skin wounds may also smell
When are topical antibiotics used?
- for wounds that are high risk for infection, chronic wounds or those that have not been cleaned properly
- for wounds that are already infected