Inflammation and Healing Flashcards
define inflammation
non-specific but predictable response of living tissues, or the entire body, to injury. The injury may be caused by chemical agents, physical forces, living microbes or many other physiological or pathologic stimuli
- plays a protective role and is generally beneficial to the body. side effects may be noxious (painful) and process may be uncontrollable
-occurs in living tissue - causes can be due to cuts, sprains, chemicals, necrosis, allergic reactions, burns, foreign objects imbedded in the tissue and infection
Cardinal signs of Inflammation
A. Heat - the area may feel hotter than the surrounding tissue
B. Redness- increased color (usually red) is noted in the area of inflammation
c. Swelling - localized swelling (edema) may be noted in the area
D. pain- increased in the area of tissue damage - it may be diffuse or local
E. Disturbed function - movement may be limited or the person is unable to use the area (think of a person limping when they have an ingrown toenail)
Acute inflammation
a few hours to a few days - it can have a delayed onset- think of a splinter that you don’t feel until the next day
chronic inflammation
intense and a long time
a. extension of acute inflammation
b. prolonged healing of acute inflammation
c. persistence of causative agents causing the inflammation like arthritis , viruses or bacteria such as the type that cause ulcers
d. generally less swelling and exudate but there are more lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts. Collagen is produced resulting in scar tissue
RICE
Treatment of inflammation that COTAS may use. Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation - used for acute inflammation
cellulitis
common skin infection that happens when bacteria spread through the skin to deeper tissues
contractures
complication of wound healing when the joint or tissue looses movement and range becomes very limited. Person can only move the joint so far due to excessive scar formation
Adhesions
complication of wound healing - bands of tissue do not allow for movement to occur between the injury site to the issue or bone.
edema
localized swelling
necrosis
cell death
arthritis
joint inflammation
thermal therapy
ice or heat will vary according to the type of inflammation - generally ice 24-72 hours , heat after 72 hours
Causes that lead to inflammation
- infection - from bacteria, viruses, protozoan, fungus - develops into inflamed tissue and changes in blood supply
- chemical - organic/inorganic, industrial/medicinal, exogenous or endogenous
- physical - foreign bodies, heat, irradiation, trauma
- Immune - AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis
- Multifactorial - combination of any of the above i.e. someone could have Rheumatoid Arthritis in which they have an acute flare up in the joints and if too much heat is applied to relieve the pain in the joints , the heat could cause a physical burn which in turn breaks down the tissue and more inflammation occurs
local vs systematic infammation
local is just in the area of tissue damage
systematic is through the entire organ or body
Factors that may delay healing or repair
- site of wound- location- wounds on a joint heals poorly because it is moved frequently
- mechanical factors such as irritation, bleeding, or excessive mobility
- age of the person - cell production is slow
- poor nutrition or anemia (low iron in the blood)
- size of wound
- presence or absence of infection
- circulatory status
- increased infection or exposure
- secondary causes such as diabetes
