Wounds Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is an open wound?
A wound where the skin is broken, exposing the underlying tissue
What is a closed wound?
A wound where the skin remains intact but the underlying tissue is damaged
What are the different types of open wounds?
Surgical
Surgical wound breakdown
Burns
Crush injury
Laceration
Puncture
Abrasion
Degloving
What is a surgical wound?
A clean cut or incision made in the skin and underlying tissues during surgery
What is a surgical wound breakdown?
Also known as wound dehiscence
When a surgical wound reopens instead of healing properly
What are the causes of surgical wound breakdowns?
Infections
Excessive straining
Poor blood flow
Improper straining
What is a burn?
Injuries to the skin and/or deeper tissues caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, radiation or friction
How are burns classified?
By cause, depth and percentage of body surface affected
What are the causes of burns?
Exposure to fire, hot liquids, steam or heated objects
Exposure to strong acids or bases
Contact with live electrical sources
Prolonged exposure to UV rays or radiation therapy
Rubbing against a rough surface
What is a crush injury?
When excessive force or pressure is applied to a body part, often trapped between two objects
What are the causes of crush injuries?
Road traffic collisions
Heavy machinery
Unstable loads falling
Animal attacks
Collapsing structures
Entrapment injuries
What is a laceration?
When the skin and underlying tissue are torn rather than cut clean
Often have jagged, irregular edges
What are the causes of lacerations?
Animal fights
Sharp objects
Road traffic collisions
Tools/machinery
High impact falls
What is a puncture wound?
Where the skin is pierced creating a small but deep hole
What are the causes of puncture wounds?
Bite wounds
Sharp objects
Hunting injuries
Impalements
Insect stings
What is an abrasion?
Also known as a graze
When the skin is scraped or rubbed off due to friction against a rough surface
What are the causes of abrasions?
Road traffic collisions
Falls onto abrasive surfaces
Prolonged contact with rough bedding/surfaces
Poor fitting casts/bandages
Animal fights
What is a degloving wound?
When the skin and underlying tissue are forcibly separated from the body exposing muscles, tendons and even bones
What are the causes of degloving wounds?
High-impact trauma
Animal attacks
Entrapment injuries
What factors would prevent a wound from healing?
Movement
Infection
Patient interference
Foreign bodies
Impaired circulation
What are the different types of closed wounds?
Hematoma
Contusion
What is a haematoma?
A collection of blood outside of blood vessels
What are the causes of hematomas?
Blunt force impact
Falls
Fights
Excessive head shaping or scratching
Conditions affecting blood clotting
Post-surgical complications
What is a contusion?
Also known as a bruise
When capillaries break due to trauma causing blood to leak from surrounding tissue
