Chapter 3 - Advanced Wound Care Skills

Wounds that break the skin and possibly involve the underlying tissues as well.

Wounds that damage the tissues underneath the skin, but the skin itself is not broken.

Wounds that result from a planned surgical or medical intervention. Edges of these wounds are even. Healing is usually uncomplicated.

They close the edges of wounds.

Wounds that result from falls, accidents, or violence. Edges are uneven, making it difficult to close. Healing is often complicated.

Wounds that are expected to heal within a few days or weeks.

Wounds that are delayed in healing, or may never heal completely. Often found in people with underlying medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

A phase in wound healing, in which the area is hot, red, swollen, and painful. Heat and redness occur because of the increased blood flow to the area. Swelling and pain are caused by plasma leaking out of the dilated capillaries into the surrouding tissues.

A phase in the wound healing process in which temporary tissue is rapidly produced and new blood vessels are formed.

A thin layer of epithelial cells produced from fibroblasts that occurs during proliferation phase.

Tissue rich in collagen that forms in the wound and does not function the same way as normal tissue. Lacks blood vessels, hair follicles, sweat glands, and melanin.

The final stage in the wound healing process in which more collagen is secreated to strengthen the wound, while at the same time the scar itself becomes a flat, thin, white line.

A type of wound healing in which the wound is kept clean but otherwise left alone. The tissue will repair itself, and the wound will close on its own.

A type of wound healing in which the wound is closed surgically with sutures or staples as soon as possible.

A type of wound healing in which the wound is left open for a period of time to make sure that an infection is not going to occur, and then the wound is closed surgically with sutures or staples.