Wounds

1C – Pharmacy

GROUP 2

Chica, Mark Louis A.

Cinconiegue, Maryrose C.

De la Rosa, Jocella B.

WOUND pronounced as /wünd, or, ˈwau*nd/

An injury to living tissue caused by a cut, blow or other impact, typically one in which the skin is cut or broken.

CLASSIFICATIONOPEN

The skin is broken and the underlying tissue is exposed to the outside environment.

CLOSED The skin is intact and the underlying tissue is not directly exposed to the outside environment.

OPEN WOUNDS Abrasions

- caused by rubbing or scraping the skin against a hard, rough surface

- bleeding is usually limited

- important to clean the skin in order to guard against infection

Incisions- a cut caused by a knife,

the rough edge of metal, broken glass, a razor blade or some other sharp object

- bleeds rapidly and heavily

- if the cut is deep, muscles, tendons and nerves may be damaged

Lacerations- a jagged, irregular or

blunt breaking or tearing of soft tissues, often resulting from mishandling tools and machinery and other accidents

- bleeding may be rapid and extensive

Punctures- piercing wounds that

causes a small hole in the tissues

- even if external bleeding is slight, there may be serious internal bleeding resulting from internal damage to an organ (gunshot wound)

- requires attention of a health professional because of the danger of tetanus

Avulsions- a forcible tearing or

partial tearing away of tissues- bleeding is heavy and

rapid- if a body part (finger, toe,

etc) has been torn away in an accident, it should always be sent along the victim to the hospital (placed on moistened gauze and cooled), since there is a possibility that it can be reattached

CLOSED WOUNDS Contusions

- common type of sports injury, where a direct blunt trauma can damage the small blood vessels and capillaries, muscles and underlying tissue as well as internal organs

- a painful bruise with reddish to bluish discoloration that spread over the injured area of skin

Hematomas- injury that damages the

small blood vessels and capillaries resulting in blood collecting and pooling in a limited space

- a painful, spongy rubbery lump-like lesion

- can be small or large (external or internal), depending on the severity site of the trauma

Crush injuries- caused by an external high

pressure force that squeezes part of the body between two surfaces

- the degree of injury and pain can range from a minor bruise to a complete destruction of the crushed area of the body, depending on the site, size, duration and power of the trauma

CAUSES Can be internal or external in origin.

Wounds of internal origin are mainly due to impaired circulation, neuropathy or medical illness.

Wounds of external origin are due to an outside force or trauma that causes open or closed wounds.

o Impaired circulation - from either ischemia (result of reduced blood supply caused by the narrowing or blockage of blood vessel) or stasis (immobilization for long period or failure of the regulating valves in the veins).o Neuropathy – patients are usually unaware of any trauma or wounds, mainly due to loss of sensation in the affected area.o Medical illness – can lead to impairment of the immune system functions, diminishing the circulation and damaging other organs and systems.

RISK FACTORS

Heavy smoking, alcohol consumption and increased age

- these reduce the elasticity of blood vessels and increase the probability of blood clots, leading to vascular related disease and improper healing Unhealthy lifestyle

- these include limited exercise, poor diet, obesity and poor hygiene

Having one or more of the following can increase the risk of developing wounds:

Immobility- can cause stasis and increase the risk of

developing bed ulcers, venous ulcers, deep vein thrombosis and varicose veins.Weakened immune system

- patients taking corticosteroids, chemotheraphy, radiotheraphy or receiving a transplantation. History of chronic medical illnesses or vascular disease

- these include cancers, diabetes, high cholesterol, AIDS, heart disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, anemia, varicose veins or deep venous thrombosis.

TREATMENTS Apply pressure with a clean cloth

to stop bleeding Clean the wound with water Use an antibiotic ointment to

prevent infection Bandage the wound if it’s in an

area that might get dirty Watch for swelling and redness Get a tetanus booster if you are

due for one