Chapter 39: Providing Wound Care and Treating Pressure Ulcers

These flashcards cover key concepts related to wound care and pressure ulcers, focusing on the types of wounds, wound healing phases, complications, and treatments.

Wound

A disruption in the integrity of bodily tissue, which can be either open or closed.

Inflammatory Phase

The first phase of wound healing, lasting 1 to 4 days, where blood vessels constrict and a scab forms.

Proliferation Phase

The second phase of wound healing, lasting 2 to 3 weeks, involving the formation of new tissue and capillary networks.

Maturation Phase

The final phase of wound healing, which begins about 3 weeks after injury and may last up to 2 years, involving scar maturation.

Dehiscence

The spontaneous opening of an incision, often a sign of complications that may arise during healing.

Evisceration

The protrusion of an internal organ through an incision, requiring immediate medical attention.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

A therapeutic technique that involves applying suction to a wound dressing to promote healing.

Serous Drainage

A clear, watery fluid that may accumulate from a wound, often indicating normal healing.

Purulent Drainage

A thick, colored fluid containing pus that may indicate infection in a wound.

Full-thickness Wounds

Wounds that extend through the dermis and into deeper tissues, requiring more extensive care.

Partial-thickness Wounds

Wounds that affect the epidermis and a portion of the dermis, which heal more quickly than full-thickness wounds.

Hemostasis

The process of blood clotting that occurs immediately after a wound is created.

Granulation Tissue

New connective tissue and blood vessels that form on the surface of a wound during the healing process.

Keloid

An overgrowth of scar tissue that occurs at the site of an injury.

Adhesions

Fibrous bands that form between tissues and organs, which can cause pain or dysfunction.

Stages of Wound Healing

The three main phases: Inflammatory, Proliferation, and Maturation.

Closed Wound

A type of wound where the skin remains intact while underlying tissue is damaged, such as contusions or hematomas.

Open Wound

A type of wound that breaks the skin or mucous membrane, which includes lacerations or abrasions.