Wound Types

Question 1

abrasions

Answer 1

partial thickness dermal wounds
common in vehicular injury

Question 2

what is the best way for an abrasion to heal?

Answer 2

re-epithelization
moist wound environment will help facilitate healing

Question 3

laceration

Answer 3

tearing of the skin and deeper tissue
tissues are relatively sharply incised
trauma to the surrounding tissue is minimal

Question 4

how can fresh lacerations be treated?

Answer 4

they can be lavaged, debrided, and closed with 1st intention closure
chronic lacerations can be excised en bloc and closed through 1st intention if small enough
2nd intention can be an option for large or heavily contaminated lacerations

Question 5

degloving (avulsion)

Answer 5

large section of skin is torn off the underlying tissue
common in vehicle dragging/ jumping off moving objects
heavily contaminated
severe tissue loss
usually occurs in distal limbs or tail
exposed joints and bone are common

Question 6

how long can it take for degloving wounds to heal?

Answer 6

weeks-months of wound care

Question 7

how is an avulsion treated?

Answer 7

grafting, 2nd intention, or amputation

Question 8

penetrating wounds

Answer 8

bite wounds most common but can also include bullet wounds, arrow wounds, sticks, or antlers
often more extensive than they appear
if in the thoracic or abdominal cavity: cover with sterile adhesive occlusive film until Sx
never remove penetrating object until under sterile conditions in Sx
drains are often placed

Question 9

how are burns classifed?

Answer 9

by how deep and large they are

Question 10

1st degree burn

Answer 10

superficial, only epidermis, heals within about 1 week

Question 11

2nd degree burn

Answer 11

partial to full thickness, heals within about 10-21 days, skin can be yellow-white, black, or charred, can slough and leak plasma, blisters form

Question 12

3rd degree burn

Answer 12

destroys the full thickness of the skin, forms eschar, healing varies

Question 13

eschar

Answer 13

brown leathery scab

Question 14

4th degree burn

Answer 14

involves the tissue beyond the dermis: muscle, tendon, bone
critical!!

Question 15

what are the different types of burns?

Answer 15

thermal, electric, and chemical

Question 16

thermal burns

Answer 16

exposure to excessive heat, use caution with heating pads

Question 17

electric burns

Answer 17

usually combined with oral injury from chewing something with an electrical current inside, monitor for 2-3 weeks for other issues (electrical current can often cause pulmonary edema and heart arrhythmias because it can travel through the lungs and heart)

Question 18

chemical burns

Answer 18

usually deeper than they appear, delayed presentation
usually caused by something in the hospital or if acid is poured on an animal

Question 19

decubital ulcers

Answer 19

pressure sores
wounds that occur over bony prominences from pressure, usually in a recumbent patient
could also occur from a cast/splint being applied too loosely or overly tight
they develop rapidly but heal slowly

Question 20

how are decubital ulcers treated?

Answer 20

requires cleaning and drying
wrap with soft padded bandage material

Question 21

how can decubital ulcers be prevented?

Answer 21

rotating recumbent patients every 2-4 hours, check skin regularly: pink skin is a red flag that one is forming

Question 22

snakebites

Answer 22

most commonly caused by the crotalidae species of snake (like cottonmouths, copperheads, and rattlesnakes)
venom can cause hypotension, shock, lethargy, tissue necrosis, etc