Wound Exam: Color, Drainage, Edges Flashcards
Types of exudate (drainage)
sanguineous - thin, bright red
serosanguinous - thin, watery, pale red to pink
serous - thin, watery, clear
purulent - thick or thin, opaque tan to yellow
foul purulent - thick opaque yellow to green with offensive odor
Amount of exudate:
none- wound tissues dry
scant - moist, no measurable drainage
small - very moist, drainage <25% dressing
moderate - wound tissues wet, drainage involves 25-75% dressing
large - wound tissues fill with fluid, involves >75% dressing
Maceration
overly wet area
healthy tissue breakdown
white appearance
*Maceration chronic wounds present with a high level of exudate and whitish, swollen skin. The surface of the skin is roughened and lined with a network of grooves termed as the “sulci cutis”. It is similar in appearance to the white, wrinkly skin observed after spending a long time in a bath.
What should you look for in the areas surrounding the wound?
pulse - compare side to side, above to below
skin temperature
skin characteristics:
-blisters, calluses, other lesions
-skin color
-hair and nail growth
-moisture
-texture
-general visual assessment
What can excessive lipids cause the skin to look like?
Waxy appearance, dilated pores, acnes
Description of wound edges:
EVEN
-arterial wound
IRREGULAR
-venous wound
-may occur as wound epithelializes (shiny, translucent epithelial tissue)
EPIOBLE
-sign of halted healing process
-rolled edges of wound
-cells are termed senescent, meaning they are unable to reproduce
HYPERKERATOSIS
-overdevelopment of the horny layer of the skin
-appears as thickened skin around the edge of a wound or as a callus
-helpful to get layer of skin off to prevent wound
MACERATION
-Maceration chronic wounds present with a high level of exudate and whitish, swollen skin.
DEHISCED
-wound edges come apart
-may be superficial layers only
-can open full depth
When is wound odor test most accurately done?
after debridement and rinsing the wound
-get slough and necrotic tissue out of the way
Types of wound odors:
ammonia-like
sickly sweet
fout, putrid, fetid
*blue/green colored wound–> bad sign
Types of pain and what they mean:
Deep pain (cramping- ischemia or hypoxia; more comfortable in dependent position
Throbbing, localized pain- infection; deep pain that increases with pressure may indicate osteomyelitis
Superficial tenderness- exposed nerve endings, may be accompanied by sharp, shooting pains
Pain with stimulation of red tissue - living muscle!
Sensory testing can include:
pressure
vibration
light touch
temperature
proprioception
sharp: wartenberg wheel/pinwheel
reflexes/DTR
Vascular testing: arterial system
-pulses: use grading scale, compare BL, above and below
doppler for pulses that are not palpable
ABI
Why would a wound culture be indicated?
-infection signs: pus, change in color or character of exudate, redness, induration, changes in odor
-systemic signs of infection: fever, leukocytosis (high WBC count)
-suddenly elevated glucose
-pain in neuropathic extremity
-lack of healing after 2 weeks in a clean wound despite optimal care
CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS: DIMES- what does it stand for?
DEBRIDEMENT
INFECTION/INFLAMMATION
MOISTURE BALANCE
EDGES
SUPPORT SERVICES
Characteristics of chronic wounds:
-present for at least 6 weeks
CHARACTERISTICS:
-necrotic
-bioburden- The number of microorganisms with which an object is contaminated is referred to as the bioburden
-chronic inflammation
-impaired hemodynamics
-senescent fibroblasts and keratinocytes
-chronic wound fluid with growth inhibiting proteases
-overgrowth of epithelium with lack of underlying CT (epibole)
What are the 4 types of chronic wounds? (90% of chronic wounds)
Arterial
-causes: ischemia, micro or macro vascular disease, smoking
Venous insufficiency
-causes: deep vein thrombosis (37%), recent surgery, ankle fusion, prolonged standing, pregnancy, CHF
Neuropathic/Diabetic
-causes: DM, peripheral vascular disease, Hansen’s disease (leprosy)
Pressure
-causes: pressure or shear, immobility, moisture, decreased sensation, poor nutrition
What are the most prevalent types of wounds?
MOST
surgical infection
diabetic infection
surgical wound
traumatic wound
skin disorder
venous infection
LEAST
Neuropathic wound characteristics:
LOCATION: -usually foot, plantar surface or toes
-CAUSE: mechanical forces or minor trauma
PAIN: relieved with ambulation
APPEARANCE OF FOOT: architectural changes in foot (charcot foot)
APPEARANCE OF WOUND: pink, moist, callus formation, plantar surface, skin usually warm, cellulitis
CO-MORB: diabetes, chemo, Hansen’s
** ABI normal
-patients’ diagnoses: DM, PVD, Hansen’s disease, spina bifida, lupus, toxic syndromes, Charcot-Marie Tooth disease
-patients typically have sensory, autonomic, and motor neuropathies.
Arterial wound characteristics:
LOCATION: usually peripheral extremities
CAUSE: ischemia via micro or macrovascular disease
PAIN: occurs with ambulation
APPEARANCE OF FOOT: normal
APPEARANCE OF WOUND: pale color, dry, well-defined margins, limb color pale, hairless extremity, skin cool to touch
Co-morbidities: history of PAD, circulatory problems
**ABNORMAL ABI
MACRO: larger, named artery destruction by PAOD, embolus, thrombus, or trauma
MICRO: disease of the small, unnamed arterioles and capillaries, usually associated with diabetes or small emboli
How many people with DM have wounds?
15%
-14-24% of those with diabetic ulcers end up having amputation
–> 50-68% mortality rate following amputation at 5 years
How does hyperglycemia affect vasculature in ppl with DM?
hyperglycemia can lead to stiffer blood vessels
-leads to reduced tissue oxygenation
-occluded vessel
-damaged myelinated nerve fiber
*vascular and neurological damage
Is it more common to have DPN with type I or type II diabetes?
type II
What is neuropathy (DPN) ?
-decreased sensation, vibration, proprioception, loss of reflexes (distal to proximal)
-impacts longer nerve fibers “dying back”
-neuropathic pain can be present
MOTOR EFFECTS
-progressive weakness and atrophy –> changes in foot shape
AUTONOMIC EFFECTS
*decreases sweat and oil production –> dry, in-elastic skin
*heart and vasculature
–> orthostasis
–> silent MI
*GI tract
–> gastroparesis
–> diarrhea
Sensory exam for DPN:
-increased temperature by 2.2 degrees celsius
-monofilament for protective sensation, temperature, position sense, vibration, pin, light touch
-usually vibration test is first
What is a common osteopathy that occurs with diabetes mellitus?
Charcot’s disease:
(neuropathic arthropathy)
-progressive degeneration of weight bearing joints
-increased skin breakdown risk
–> abnormal pressure distribution
–> more wound risk combined with DPN
Common foot deformities for patients with DM?
clock toe deformity
charcot foot
bunions –> may lead to ulceration on toes
Complications of vascular and neuropathic changes for patients with diabetes:
-ulceration
–> often painless because they don’t have sensation
–> amputation may be needed
-neuropathic edema
-charcot arthropathy
-callus formation
Skin and nail changes with diabetes:
-1/3 patients have dermatologic manifestation
-up to 1/2 of ppl with type 2 DM at risk of developing skin infections
why do ppl with DM have skin and nail changes?
-poor glucose control
-abnormal carb metabolism
-atherosclerosis (4x as likely)
-microangiopathic changes
-neuron degeneration
-pharmacological therapy for DM (injection site)
Diabetic foot classification with grading:
Grade 0
-intact skin
Grade 1
-superficial ulcer
Grade 2
-deep ulcer
Grade 3
-ulcer with bone involvement
Grade 4
-forefoot gangrene
Grade 5
-full-foot gangrene
WIFI classification- WOUND, ISCHEMIA, FOOT INFECTION
-wound: 0-3
-ischemia: 0-3
–> less pressure, not good
-foot infection: 0-3
Peripheral vascular disease (PAOD)
Also called “peripheral arterial occlusive disease”
CRITICAL PHASES:
-collateral circulation is insufficient for metabolic needs–> blood shunts to muscles where there is less resistance
-traumatic wounds with delayed healing
CLAUDICATION- pain with activity
–> decreases with rest
-can be effectively terated with exercise
rest pain–> need surgery
-ulcer development possible
What artery could be involved with thigh and buttock pain (claudication)?
aortoiliac or iliac
What artery could be involved with calf pain (claudication)?
femoral or popliteal
When is revascularization surgery required with PAOD?
pain at rest
-could have signs of ischemia at distal digits
Physical examination of arterial wounds: (with peripheral vascular disease)
ABI: diminished
PULSES: diminished
CAPILLARY REFILL: > 3 seconds
BUERGERS TEST: pallor with elevation and rubor of dependency
SKIN APPEARANCE: shiny, thin, pale, NO hair
CONDITION OF NAILS AND HAIR
LOCATION: wound on distal toes or fingers
EDGES: even, punched out appearance
WOUND TISSUE: dry, necrotic, little or no granulation tissue
Stage I arterial wound
limb viable, not immediately threatened
Stage IIa arterial wound
limb marginally threatened, salvageable if promptly treated
Stage IIb arterial wound
limb immediately threatened, salvageable with immediate revascularization