SA Wound Management

Question 1

What are the classifications of wound?

Answer 1

Abrasions
Avulsion
Incision
Laceration
Puncture

Question 2

Abrasion

Answer 2

Loss of epidermis and some dermis
Blunt trauma/shearing
‘graze wound’
Burns
Scrapes

Question 3

Incision

Answer 3

○ Created by sharp object
○ Minimal trauma
○ Relatively neat
○ Classic surgical wound

Question 4

Avulsion

Answer 4

Tearing of tissues from attachments
Degloving on limbs
No loss of skin, just torn away

Question 5

Laceration

Answer 5

Tearing of wound creating irregular defect
Jagged
Not neat

Question 6

Puncture

Answer 6

○ Superficial damage may be minimal
○ Deep damage substantial
○ Biting injury
○ Can damage internal organs

Question 7

What is the subdermal plexus?

Answer 7

Skin is supplied by direct cutaneous arteries and veins
Meshwork of blood vessels comes off these
Runs parallel to panniculus muscle layer

Question 8

What are the steps of assessing a wound?

Answer 8

1 - Type of wound
2 - Wound age
3 - Level of contamination
4 - Lavage +/- debridment
5 - Management

Question 9

What is the golden period?

Answer 9

<6 hours from wound
6-12 hours bacteria divide
>12 hours bacterial invasion

Question 10

What factors influence bacterial contamination?

Answer 10

Vascular supply
Reduced ability to fight infection
Devitalised tissue
Increased bacterial growth
FB
Reduced ability to fight infection
Type of contamination
Soil better than organic debris, clean glass cut vs bite wound
Type of bacteria