TYPES OF WOUNDS

A. OPEN WOUND A break in the skin’s surface resulting in external bleeding May allow bacteria to enter the body, causing an infection

Lacerationso Lacerations consist of cuts to the skin caused by sharp

objects. Broken glass, shop tools, knives and other cutting implements commonly cause skin lacerations.

o They have ragged, irregular edges and masses of torn tissue underneath.(the surgical equivalent is an incised wound)

o The clinical examination must therefore assess the integrity of all structures in the area: arteries, nerves, muscles, tendons and ligaments.

o The ideal form of management of an incised wound is surgical inspection, cleaning and closure.

Punctureso Usually deep, narrow wounds in the skin and underling

organs .The entrance is usually small, and the risk of infection is high. The object causing the injury may remain impaled in the wound.

o Punctures are caused by objects that penetrate into the tissues while leaving a small surface opening. Wounds made by nails, needles, wire, and bullets are usually punctures.

o As a rule, small puncture wounds do not bleed freely; however, large puncture wounds may cause severe internal bleeding.

o Bites are a particular type of puncture wound associated with a high incidence of infection, presumably from mouth organisms. Animal bites may result in small, sharp, incised wounds or in severe tissue crushing as in horse bites. Dog bites may also be associated with a degree of tissue avulsion, and often there are puncture wounds from upper and lower teeth and contusion of the intervening tissue. Human bites may be associated with avulsion of pieces of the nose or ear.

Avulsion o An avulsion is the tearing away of tissue from a body part.

Bleeding is usually heavy. o Falls occurring while in motion frequently lead to skin

abrasions. Extensive skin loss may occur with high-speed motorcycle or similar accidents.

o Avulsion most often involve ears, fingers, and hands.

Abrasiono A shearing injury of skin in which the surface is rubbed off,

with little or no blood loss. o Abrasions tend to be painful because the nerve endings

often ate abraded along with the skin. Ground- in debris may be present.

o This type of wound can be serious if it covers a large or becomes embedded with foreign matter.

o Other names for an abrasion are scrape, road rash and rug burn.

Incisiono Incisions, commonly called CUTS, are wounds made by

sharp cutting instruments such as knives, razors, and broken glass.

o Incisions tend to bleed freely because the blood vessels are cut cleanly and without ragged edges.

o The amount of bleeding depends on the depth, the location, and the size of the wound.

o There is little damage to the surrounding tissues. Of all classes of wounds, incisions are the least likely to become infected, since the free flow of blood washes out many of the microorganisms (germs) that cause infection.

Amputationo Involves the cutting or tearing off a body part, such as

finger , toe, hand, foot, arm, or leg.o Amputations are classified according to the type of injury

1. Guillotine amputation - a clean- cut, complete detachment. Examples wound include a finger cut off with an ax or an arm severed with a power tool.

2. Crushing amputation

- Occurs when an extremity separates by being crushed or mashed off. Such as when hand is caught in a roller machine.

3. Degloving- When the skin is peeled off, much as like taking off a glove.

B. CLOSED WOUND The skin is not broken, but tissue and blood vessels beneath the

skin’s surface are crushed, causing bleeding within the confined area.

Contusionso A contusion is more commonly known as bruises.o These are a common type of sports injury, where a direct

blunt trauma can damage the small blood vessels and capillaries, muscles and underlying tissue, as well the internal organs and, in some cases, bone.

o Contusions present as a painful bruise with reddish to bluish discoloration that spreads over the injured area of skin.

o Swelling occurs as the blood collects beneath the skin layers or in the damaged tissues. A hematoma or blood clot almost always forms beneath the surrounding tissues, resulting in a characteristic “blue or black” mark. A classic example is the so-called black eye. Initially, the injured part appears blue or reddened but gradually changes color into brownish yellow as the tissues heal.

Hematomaso These include any injury that damages the small blood

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

o Hematomas typically present as a painful, spongey rubbery lump-like lesion.

o Hematomas can be small or large, deep inside the body or just under the skin; depending on the severity and site of the trauma.

Crush injurieso  These are usually caused by an external high pressure

force that squeezes part of the body between two surfaces or great/ extreme amount of force applied over a long period of time.

o 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.

REFERENCES:https://www.som.uq.edu.au/media/182331/8%20W-S%20Booklet

%20Wound%20Mgmt.pdfhttp://www.livestrong.com/article/130677-different-kinds-open-wounds/http://www.jblearning.com/samples/

0763742090/42090_CH09_097_113.pdfhttp://iust.edu.sy/courses/Wounds.pdf

http://www.medicine.uodiyala.edu.iq/uploads/lectures/surgery%203/Types%20of%20 wounds.pdf http://firstaidcprhamilton.ca/types-of-closed-wounds/

http://www.woundcarecenters.org/article/wound-basics/closed-wound-basics