Wounds Aetiology, Complications and Healing

Question 1

• What are the possible wound classifications?

Answer 1

Abrasion, avulsion, incision, laceration & puncture

Question 2

• What is the difference between an abrasion and an avulsion?

Answer 2

Abrasion is a loss of epidermis and some dermis, avulsion is the tearing of tissues from attachments

Question 3

• What is the key muscle that must be considered when dealing with wounds?

Answer 3

Panniculus muscle

Question 4

• What is the major source of blood supply to the skin?

Answer 4

Subdermal plexus, supplied by the direct cutaneous artery

Question 5

• What are the three phases of wound healing?

Answer 5

Inflammatory phase, repair phase & remodelling phase

Question 6

• What is produced by the fibroblasts during the repair phase?

Answer 6

Proteoglycans, collagen and elastin

Question 7

• What factors influence the golden period?

Answer 7

Vascular supply, devitalised tissue, foreign body, type of contamination & type of bacteria

Question 8

• What are the two main methods of non-surgical debridement?

Answer 8

Wet-to-dry and dry-to-dry dressings

Question 9

• What are the three main methods of wound closure?

Answer 9

Primary closure, delayed primary closure & secondary intention healing

Question 10

• What happens during secondary intention healing?

Answer 10

Granulation tissue forms, wound contraction and epithelialisation

Question 11

• What are the two types of drains?

Answer 11

Passive drains (Penrose drain) & active drains