Trauma and Wound Management Flashcards
(140 cards)
4-2-1 rule
- For maintenance fluids in kids
- 4 mL for first 10 kg
- 2 mL for next 10 kg
- 1 mL for each kg thereafter
Parkland formula
- For fluid bolus
- F x % of body covered by 2 or 3rd degree x body weight kg
- For kids, F = 3
- For adults, F = 2
- 2/3 in first 16 hours, 1/3 in next 8 hours
Contusion
a region of injured tissue or skin in which blood capillaries have been ruptured; a bruise
Four stages of wound healing
- First 2 weeks
- Exudative (Day 1)
- Resorptive (Day 1-3)
- Proliferation (Day 3-7)
- 2 weeks - months/years
- Maturation
Phases of wound healing – detail

Exudative Phase diagram

Resorptive Phase diagram

Proliferative Phase diagram

Maturation Phase diagram

DID NOT HEAL mnemonic
- Drugs (steroids, cytotoxics, immunosuppressives)
- Ischemia/infarcton
- Diabetes
- Nutritional deficiency (iron, copper, zinc, vitamin C)
- Oxygen (hypoxia)
- Toxins (alcohol consumption, smoking)
- Hypothermia/hyperthermia
- Excessive tension on the wound edges
- Acidosis/Another wound
- Local anesthetics
Vitamin C deficiency and wound healing
Delays wound healing in the proliferative phase due to inability to adequately synthesize collagen (terminally mature, cross-linked)
Copper deficiency and wound healing
Delays wound healing in the proliferative phase due to inability to adequately synthesize collagen (terminally mature, cross-linked)
Co-factor for lysl oxidase
Zinc deficiency and wound healing
- Can delay wound healing because the collagenases responsible for collagen remodeling require zinc to function properly
Disease of excessive scarring
- Occurs in dysregulation of the proliferative phase of one of the following:
-
Excess:
- PDGF
- TGFb
- CTGF (connective-tissue growth factor)
- TIMPs
-
Insufficient:
- FGF
- Metalloproteinase (eg collagenase)
- IL-10
-
Excess:
Difference between hypertrophic scar and keloid
-
Hypertrophic scar:
- Cutaneous condition characterized by high fibroblast proliferation and collagen production that leads to a raised scar that does not grow beyond the boundaries of the original lesion.
-
Keloid:
- Lesions grow beyond the original wound margins, leading to a ”claw-like” appearance.

Pathology of contractures
- Excessive proliferation in myofibroblasts during proliferative and maturation phases leads to contraction of the wound.
- Excessive contraction can reduce the functionality of the injured limbs or organs.
-
Wounds that cross a joint are at high risk for causing functional deficits from contracture.
- like Dupuytren’s contracture

Decubitus ulcer
Another name for pressure ulcers
A condition of localized tissue damage due to pressure that obstructs blood flow to the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Most commonly develops over bony prominences, such as the sacrum, heel, hip, and back of the head.
Things patients with multiple wounds should be screened for
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Compartment syndrome
- DVT / VTE
1000 foot management of open wounds
- Cleaning
- Removal of devitalized tissues
- If feasible, wound closure
- Glue
- Wound closure strips
- Suturing
1000 foot management of closed wounds
- Manage according to POLICE principal
- A strategy to minimize inflammation and encourage healing of closed wounds, such as contusions and sprains:
- (P) protection,
- (OL) optimal loading,
- (I) ice,
- (C) compression,
- (E) elevation.
- A strategy to minimize inflammation and encourage healing of closed wounds, such as contusions and sprains:
1000 foot management for chronic wounds
Chronic wounds and ulcers can often be treated conservatively;
however, in severe or nonhealing wounds, surgical intervention, including debridement and skin grafting, may be necessary. Management of the underlying cause (e.g., diabetes, chronic venous disease) is imperative to enable healing of chronic wounds
Managing complete traumatic fingertip amputation
- Control bleeding by placing direct pressure on the wound and raise the injured area.
- Gently clean the amputated part with sterile saline solution.
- Cover with gauze dampened with saline.
- Place in a watertight bag.
- Place the bag in an ice bath in a sealed container.
- Head to hospital for urgent assessment.
Stump ulcer
- Complication of digit amputation
- Etiology: most commonly develops due to friction and repetitive pressure from a prosthesis with a suboptimal fit
- Risk factors: conditions associated with poor wound healing (e.g., diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, poor circulation)
- Management of noninfected stump ulcer: pressure relief, skin care and frequent wound checks, and ensuring a proper prosthetic socket fit
Considerations for bite wounds
- More likely to be infected:
- Common pathogens: Streptococci, Staphylococci, H. influenzae, Pasteruella multicoda, Capnocytophaga canimorsus, anaerobes
- Rabies
- Tetanus
- Will need irrigation and debridement
- Broad spectrum abx: beta lactam - beta lactamise inhibitor OR 2nd or 3rd generation cephalosporin








