Inflammation And Soft Tissue Repair

Question 1

What is Inflammation?

Answer 1

Physical condition where the bodies white blood cells protect your body, possible injury site from infection

Question 2

What are the signs of inflammation and describe them

Answer 2

-Pain = Chemical irritation/pressure on tissue and sensory nerve endings
-Redness (erythema) = Underlying excess of blood
-Heat = Hyperaemia
-Loss of function= Swelling, increase permeability of vessel walls (contains fibrous proteins which form blood clots)

Question 3

Examples of acute inflammation

Answer 3

-Allergic reaction
-Infection
-Burns
-Trauma injury
-Chemical irritants

Question 4

Example of chronic inflammation

Answer 4

-Cardiovascular disease
-Neurological disease
-Cancer
-Lupus
-Rheumatoid arthritis

Question 5

What is soft tissue repair?

Answer 5

After an injury, the soft tissue undergoes 4 specific phases of healing, Physiotherapists assist in this natural healing.

Question 6

What are the stages of soft tissue repair?

Answer 6

Stage 1- Bleeding
Stage 2- Inflammation
Stage 3- Proliferation
Stage 4- Remodelling

Question 7

What happens in the first stage of Soft tissue repair?

Answer 7

Bleeding
-Soft tissue is disrupted due to vascular injury
-Blood vessels are severed
-Blood plasma released into wound site

Question 8

How long does the bleeding stage last for?

Answer 8

4-6 hours

Question 9

What happens in stage 2 of inflammation?

Answer 9

Inflammation
-Mast cells containing histamine proteins detect the injury and histamine is released
-Enters blood and attaches to receptor sites causing contraction and plasma leaks out

Question 10

How long does the Inflammation stage last for?

Answer 10

2-3 days, resolves after a few weeks

Question 11

What are the 2 types of responses in the inflammation phase of soft tissue repair?

Answer 11

Vascular Response and Cellular Response

Question 12

Describe Vascular Response

Answer 12

-Vasodilation and vasopermability
-Dormant capilleries open and blood flow increases
-Leaky vessels and increase is exudate (Swelling/tissue oedema)

Question 13

Describe Cellular Response

Answer 13

-Phagocytosis (removes debris)
-Releases by-product (debris clearance)

Question 14

What is the third stage of soft tissue repair called?

Answer 14

Proliferation

Question 15

What happens in stage 3 of soft tissue repair?

Answer 15

Proliferation
-Fibroplasia (Fibroblasts repair connective tissue)
-Angiogensis (formation of new blood vessels + collagen)
BASIC SCAR FORMATION

Question 16

How long does Proliferation last for?

Answer 16

24- 48 hours to 2-3 weeks

Question 17

What happens in stage 4 of soft tissue repair?

Answer 17

Remodelling
-Refinement of collagen
-Type III fibre (weak) is reabsorbed and replaced with Type I to form the structure of final scar tissue

Question 18

How long does stage 4 of soft tissue repair last for?

Answer 18

1-2 weeks