Wound Exam and Management Flashcards
What are the 6 purposes of a wound classification and exam?
- Establish a baseline status
- Determine etiology
- Note severity
- Define phase of healing
- Report changes in the wound over time
- Determine the effectiveness of interventions
What typically causes an Arterial wound?
Arterial Insufficiency
Where are Arterial wounds located?
Toes, feet, or lower 1/3 of the leg.
What is the appearance of Arterial wounds?
Pale
Describe the bleeding of an Arterial wound.
Little or none
How much exudate does an Arterial wound have?
Dry or scant to small serous
What is the typical shape of an Arterial wound?
Irregular
How painful are Arterial wounds?
Severe, relieved by dependent position (standing)
What are other features of Arterial wounds?
- Dry skin
- absent pulses
- brittle nails
What is typically the cause of Neuropathic wounds?
Insensitivity or Diabetes
Where are Neuropathic wounds typically located?
Plantar surface of foot
What is the appearance of a Neuropathic wound?
Pale
Describe the typical bleeding of a Neuropathic wound.
Brisk
Describe the exudate of a Neuropathic wound.
Very little serous or serosanguineous
What is the shape of a Neuropathic wound?
Punched out circle
How painful are Neuropathic wounds?
Little or none
What are other features of a Neuropathic wound?
- Warm skin
2. Pulses may be present or absent
What typically causes a Pressure wound?
Pressure
Where are pressure wounds typically located?
Bony prominences
What is the appearance of a pressure wound?
Depends on the stage
Describe the bleeding of a pressure wound.
Varies
Describe the exudate of a pressure wound.
Varies
Describe the shape of a pressure wound.
Defined edges.
Describe the pain associated with a pressure wound.
Varies by depth, location, and structures involved.
What is the cause of a Venous wound?
Venous insufficiency
What is the typical location of a venous wound?
Lower 1/3 of leg, medial aspect of leg, proximal to medial malleolus
What is the typical color of a venous wound?
Pinkish red
Describe the bleeding of a venous wound.
Ooze
T/F: venous wounds typically have a lot of exudate.
True
What is the typical shape of a venous wound?
Irregular rounded edges
Are Venous wounds typically painful?
Mild, relieved by elevation
What are other features of Venous wounds?
- Dermatitis
- Hyperpigmentation
- Palpable pulses
What are the 5 considerations with wound measurement?
- There are a lot of different ways to assess/measure a wound
- Regardless of method you need to be consistent
- Take it the same way EVERY time
- Use the same unit of measure
- Have the same person measure (if possible)
How often is wound measurement typically done?
Once per week.
What are the two main methods of wound measurement?
The “Greatest” and The Clock
How is the greatest method performed?
The greatest length (cephalic-to-caudal) of the wound X the greatest width (perpendicular to cephalic-to-caudal) = surface area cm^2
Inflates the wound size
a. The “Greatest”
b. The Clock
a. The “Greatest”
Reliable
a. The “Greatest”
b. The Clock
a. The “Greatest”
Less used
a. The “Greatest”
b. The Clock
b. The Clock
Requires more precision
a. The “Greatest”
b. The Clock
b. The Clock
Measures consistent diameters
a. The “Greatest”
b. The Clock
b. The Clock
Well known (most common of measurements)
a. The “Greatest”
b. The Clock
a. The “Greatest”
Measures different diameters at different times b/c diameters change as size and shape change.
a. The “Greatest”
b. The Clock
a. The “Greatest”
How is The Clock method performed?
Length is measured as 12-6
Width is measured at 9-3
Length x Width = Surface Area cm^2
How is Tracing (aka plainimetry) performed?
Trace the wound on acetate or plastic wrap then transfer it to graph paper and count boxed.
T/F: Tracing (plainimetry) is difficult to learn but inexpensive.
F: Tracing is EASY to learn and inexpensive.
T/F: Tracing (plainimetry) has good intra and intertester reliability.
True
T/F: Tracing (doesn’t allow for much detail such as tunnels, undermines, and wound tissues.
F: These are easy to draw in and use different colors for.
How is photography of a wound performed?
Wound is photographed on grid film. Surface area is calculated by counting the squares.
What can be done to show relative size of a photographed wound?
Position a linear measure near it
When is accuracy compromised with a photographed wound?
when wound is on a curved surface.
When is wound photography best?
documentation for reimbursement and legal issues. Demonstrates changes in wound.
Define Tunnels.
Cavities along fascial planes b/w layers under the skin.
Define Undermines.
Cavities beneath the wound edges.
How do you assess/measure tunnels or undermines?
- Moisten cotton-tipped applicator w/ sailine or sterile water.
- Insert it into the undermined/tunneled areas all around the perimeter.
- At the endpoint press cotton-tipped applicator up and mark the area of bulging skin with a pen.
- Connect the dots Measure length x width and subtract wound surface area.
- Can also measure at clock points or longest tunnel.
What is the most common method of reporting healing progress?
Percentage healing per week = 1 - current cm^2/previous cm^2 x 100
What are the limitations of basic wound depth assessment?
Can measure deepest spot, but reproducibility is not good b/c wound bed surfaces are irregular and fill irregularly. Value is controversial because of inaccuracy.
What is wound depth a good indication of?
Proliferation
How is assessment of wound depth performed?
- Insert cotton-tipped applicator into wound bed.
- Hold stick w/ fingers at wound skin surface edge
- Keep fingers there and place stick along a metric ruled measured.
- Record distance from end of cotton-tipped applicator to fingers at wound skin surface edge.
If the wound measured 42 cm2 last week and measures 32 cm2 this week, what is the percentage wound healing.
(1-32/42) x 100 = 24%
What are two alternative ways for measuring wound depth?
Jeltrate and Saline