Types
- Bite wounds
- Skin blisters
- Bruises
- Lacerations
- Lacerations
- Abrasions
- Gunshot wounds
- Stab wounds
- Radiation wounds
- Burns
- Burns
- Combinations, for example laceration bruise.
Wounds can be open or closed.
Symptoms
- Pain, burning, stinging
- Tissue injury
- Loss of function of the affected organ
Course
Wound healing proceeds in three characteristic phases: 1. Cleansing phase (exudative phase):
- Due to bleeding, the wound cleans itself by washing out foreign bodies
2nd granulation phase (proliferation phase):
- Exudation decreases, new vessels grow in and granulation tissue is formed. In this phase, there is often more pain.
3rd epithelialization phase (differentiation phase):
- Scar tissue is formed and the wound is closed by the formation of epithelium.
Complications
Risk of infection:
- The risk of infection is mainly related to the formation and resulting contamination of the wound. For example, a high risk of infection comes from bite wounds inflicted by humans or animals.
Chronification, poor healing
To the doctor
- Large extent, severe bleeding, deep wounds (> 0.5 cm)
- Do not pull out objects in the wound (eg, nails)!
- Bite wounds
- Injuries to the face
- Severe burns
- Infected wounds
Therapy
- Main article: Wound care
Acute vs. chronic wounds
Acute wound
- Cause: external injury
- Usually heal relatively quickly without complications
- Sharply limited wounds
Chronic wound
- Cause: injuries and disorders of wound healing as a result of an underlying disease.
- A chronic wound is spoken of if after four weeks still no signs of healing are visible
- Fuzzy wound edges
- Infections are common in chronic wounds
- Common causes of chronic wounds: Venous disease, diabetes, bed confinement, immune system disorders, anti-inflammatory drugs, rheumatic diseases.
Primary vs. secondary wound infection.
Primary wound infection
- Infection occurs as soon as the wound is created
- Examples: traumatic injuries, wound infections after surgery.
Secondary wound infection
- A secondary wound infection is said to occur when a pre-existing wound becomes infected
- Examples: chronic ulcers, burn wounds.
