Classifications of Wounds

Common surgical conditions - wounds

What is a wound?

A wound is a break of the skin, mucous membrane or deeper tissues caused by a mechanical, chemical, thermal or biological factor.

E.g. Bites, sharp objects, surgical incisions, or blunt trauma.

How can wounds be classified?

(What does it mean?)

• Cause of wound - Open or closed.

• Severity & depth - How deep the damage extends (superficial, partial thickness or full thickness.

• Infection risk - Clean, clean contaminated, contaminated, infected.

• Healing method - Primary intention, secondary intention, delayed closure.

Why do we classify wounds? (Name 3 reasons)

Understanding wound classification helps to:

• Management - Select approriate wound management technique.

• Medication - Helps to determine the need for antibiotics (kill bacteria) /antimicrobials (stop growth of bacteria) as well as how they are administered.

• Surgical technique - For choosing the right suture (stich) and surgical technique (primary or delayed closure).

• Bandaging - Choosing the right bandaging materials and techniques.

• Reduce the risk of infection.

• Improve health outcomes.

Name 3 ways that wounds are treated…

• Stabilization/first aid.

• Lavage & irrigation (washing by flushing it with sterile water, saline solution or another sterile liquid).

• Debridement - removal of dead, damaged or contaminated tissue.

• Wound closure - Primary or secondary.

• Fluid or pus drainage.

• Medications - pain medication, antibiotics.

Cones may also be used to prevent licking/knawing.

What do wounds need to be free from to heal?

• Infection.

• Dead/necrotic tissue.

• Foreign bodies/chemicals.

• Movement.