Wound Management Flashcards
why is classification of a wound important?
enables you to ensure correct management of the wound and patient
how should a wound be classified?
when did the wound occur
how contaminated is the wound
how did the wound occur
what type of wound is it
why is it important to know when the wound occurred?
in order to classify level of bacterial multiplication (longer time = more bacteria)
what are the classes of wound based on bacterial multiplication?
class 1 class 2 class 3
how old is a class 1 laceration (bacterial classification)?
0-6 hours old
how old is a class 2 laceration (bacterial classification)?
6-12 hours old
how old is a class 3 laceration (bacterial classification)?
older than 12 hours (or unknown time of wound occurance)
describe the contamination level of a class 1 (bacterial multiplication) wound
minimal contamination
describe the contamination level of a class 2 (bacterial multiplication) wound
significant contamination
describe the contamination level of a class 3 (bacterial multiplication) wound
gross contamination
describe the type of wound of a class 1 (bacterial multiplication) wound
clean laceration
what are the levels of wound contamination?
clean
clean contaminated
contaminated
dirty / infected
when are clean wounds created?
under sterile conditions
describe the level of contamination of clean contaminated wounds
minimal contamination - easily removed
when are clean contaminated wounds produced?
during surgery if a tract is perforated with minimal spillage
when can clean contaminated wounds be closed?
after appropriate treatment
describe contaminated wounds
gross contamination with foreign debris
what could cause a contaminated wound?
dog fight
RTA
gunshot
when can a contaminated wound be closed?
after appropriate treatment
describe a dirty / infected wound
infection (>10^5 organisms per gram) already exists
at how many organisms per gram is there said to be an infection?
> 10^5 organisms per gram
should dirty / infected wounds be closed primarily?
no
how can a wound be tested for infection?
flushed and then swabbed for culture and sensitivity tests
what are the 5 types of wound?
incision abrasion avulsion laceration puncture
what creates and incision wound?
sharp objects
describe an incision wound
smooth edges
minimal surrounding trauma
surgical wound
what creates an abrasion wound?
blunt trauma or shearing force
describe an abrasion wound
damage to skin including epidermis
what happens during an avulsion wound?
tearing of tissue from attachment (e.g. degloving)
what is a laceration wound created by?
tearing
describe a laceration wound
variable damage to tissues
describe a puncture wound
penetrating wound
minimal superficial damage but substantial deeper damage
what can cause a puncture wound?
sharp object / missile
what must be considered about the anatomy near to / within a wound?
deterioration or progression of the wound and how this may affect the patient (long and short term)
side effects / results of tissue breakdown due to associated anatomy
how may a wound affect mobility in the long term?
if near to a joint scar tissue may form which alters range of movement
what are the 3 phases of wound healing?
inflammatory
proliferative
maturation
what is the aim in the inflammatory phase?
debridement
when does the inflammatory stage of wound healing occur?
within the first 72 hours post injury
when does haemorrhage occur post injury?
within minutes
what is the role of vasoconstriction during the inflammatory phase of wound healing?
reduces haemorrhage and allows clot to form
what is the role of vasodilation in the inflammatory stage of wound healing?
releases clotting elements into the wound and triggers the healing process
what process in the inflammatory stage of wound healing initiates the debridement phase?
white blood cells leak from the blood vessels into the wound - ‘clean up’
when does the early proliferative stage begin?
3-5 days post injury
what happens during the early proliferative stage of wound healing?
granulation tissue fills the wound
fibroblasts lay a network of collagen in the wound bed which gives strength to tissue
epithelial cells from the wound margins migrate to cover the wound
what is the aim during the early proliferative stage of wound healing?
maintain moist wound environment
prevent damage to cells
what happens during the late proliferative stage of wound healing?
wound contracts
epithelialisation
what are the aims during the late proliferative stage of wound healing?
exudate reduced
maintain moist environment
when does the maturation stage of wound healing begin?
2-4 weeks post injury when the wound has filled in and resurfaced
what happens during the maturation stage of wound healing?
remodelling phase
collagen fibres reorganise, remodel and mature to give wound tensile strength forming scar tissue
what are the 4 key goals of wound healing?
full epithelialisation with minimal / no scar formation
in as minimal time as possible
without recurrence or risk of breakdown
as cost effectively as possible