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Patient Information | Wound Care
Types of Wounds
Acute wound
Caused by trauma or surgery and usually requiring limited
local care.
Chronic wound
Takes longer than usual to heal because of underlying conditions,
such as pressure, diabetes mellitus, poor circulation, poor
nutritional state, immunodeficiencies, or infection.
Full-thickness
wound
Tissue destruction extending through the second layer of
skin (dermis) to involve subcutaneous tissue under and possibly
muscle or bone; tissue can appear snowy white, gray, or brown,
with a firm leathery texture.
Laceration
Torn or jagged wound.
Partial-thickness wound
Tissue destruction through the first layer of skin (epidermis),
extending into, but not through, the dermis.
Pressure ulcer
Pressure ulcers occur when the soft tissue is compressed
between two hard surfaces (i.e. the bony prominences and
a resting surface: cart, chair, or bed.) Circulation becomes
impaired, depriving the tissue of oxygen and nutrients, which
results in tissue death.
Arterial ulcer
Arterial insufficiency ulcers are usually due to a disease
process caused by hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis)
or by the occlusion of the artery by plaques or fats (atherosclerosis).
These ulcers are frequently located on the lower leg, the
foot, or the toes.
Venous stasis ulcer
Usually results when valves in the leg do not function properly
and venous blood does not completely leave the veins, resulting
in venous hypertension. Fluid leaks from the vessels
and forms edema in the tissue. The swelling and tissue
pressure that results causes ulceration, usually located
on the ankle or calf.
Neuropathic ulcer (diabetic)
Results from damage to peripheral nerves (usually from diabetes),
causing decreased sensation, which allows for undetected
and inappropriate pressure to the plantar surface of the
foot. The ulcers occur on the plantar surface of the
foot and often present with callous formation.
Surgical Wounds
Surgical wounds that have been closed through primary intention
(staples, sutures) are usually quick to heal and form a
minimal scar. Surgical wounds that have been left
open to contamination or infection heal by secondary intention. Connective
tissue must fill in the defect.
Wound Classification
The following are classification examples:
Necrotic:The
local death of tissue. This tissue is often black/brown in
color and leathery in texture.
Infected: The
deposition and multiplication of organisms in tissue with
an associated host reaction.
Draining:
Granular: During
the proliferative phase of healing, this is the bright red
tissue formed from new capillary loops or "buds" that
are red/deep pink and moist with a "bumpy" appearance.
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