The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by open wounds:
Respiratory system (J00-J99)
- Pulmonary emphysema * –condition in which there is increased air in the lungs.
- Tension pneumothorax * -life-threatening form of pneumothorax in which increased pressure in the pleural space causes problems with blood flow to the heart, as well as limited unfolding of each other’s lungs; pleural space is the space in the chest cavity between the inner top of the rib cage and the pleura
Skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99).
- In wound healing disorders transition into ulcer (ulcer) or into a chronic wound possible – disorders of wound healing can result from:
- Chronic damage (e.g., due to pressure: decubital ulcer),
- Pre-damaged skin (in peripheral arterial occlusive disease (pAVK), chronic venous insufficiency (venous weakness), polyneuropathy/diseases of the peripheral nervous system affecting multiple nerves),
- Wound infections, and
- Systemic causes such as diabetes mellitus, protein deficiency and factor XIII deficiency.
Similarly, poorly healing wounds should be searched for disposition factors (tumor exclusion).
- Poor scarring – hypertrophic scars, keloids (bulge scar).
Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).
- Infection of the wound – the wound is a portal of entry for pathogens, which may result in local wound infection; erysipelas (erysipelas; an infection of the skin caused by Streptococcus pyogenes) is also possible. Torn wound edges are significantly more likely to become infected than smooth wound edges.
- Gas gangrene – caused by the bacterium Clostridium perfringens with enterotoxin formation.
- Tetanus (tetanus) – triggered by the bacterium Clostridium tetani with neurotoxin formation (in contaminated wounds by soil, wood splinters, etc.).
- Specific wound infections are:
- Bite wounds – very persistent mixed infections can occur here (due to saliva rich in pathogens).
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).
- In bite wounds: Osteomyelitis (infectious inflammation of the bone marrow).
Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).
- Bleeding
- Dysphonia * (hoarseness)
- Dysphagia * (dysphagia).
- Dyspnea * (shortness of breath)
- Hemoptysis * (hemoptysis)
- Shock *
Injuries, poisonings and other consequences of external causes (S00-T98).
- Concomitant injuries to muscles, vessels, nerves, bones, organs (gunshot wounds to the head: mortality (death rate): – 90%).
- Foreign body blast – e.g., from black powder, wood and metal splinters.
- Hematoma (bruise due toPost-bleeding).
- Intraperitoneal lesion (injury to the peritoneum):
- Abdominal stab wounds penetrate the peritoneal boundary in only 60-75% and accordingly do not necessarily result in organ injury.
- Abdominal gunshot wounds penetrate the peritoneal boundary in more than 95% and, accordingly, frequently result in organ injury.
- Compartment syndrome (massive tissue swelling, which can result in amputation in the absence of acute treatment) – especially in crush injuries in the area of the lower leg, foot, forearm, hand.
- Penetrating thoracic injuries (→ creation of a chest drain via a minithoracotomy/surgical opening of the thorax through an intercostal incision).
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- Wound rupture – e.g. due to lack of immobilization (coughing, sneezing, vomiting).
Further
- Seroma formation (accumulation of wound secretions).
* After gunshot and stab wounds to the thoracic and cervical regions.
