Wounds

Wounds

• A wound is a break in the continuity of a tissue of the body, either internal or external. Wounds are classified as open or closed. An open wound is a break in the skin or in a mucous membrane.

Types of Wounds

1. Open Wounds 2. Closed Wounds

Open Wounds

• Open Wounds range from those that bleed severely but are relatively free from the danger of infection. They can bleed a little but have greater potential of becoming infected.

Types of Open Wounds

Open Wounds

A. AbrasionAn Abrasion results from scraping the skin and thereby damaging it. Bleeding in an abrasion is usually limited to oozing of blood from rupture small veins and capillaries. Abrasions commonly result from falls or the handling of rough objects.

Abrasion

Open Wounds

B. IncisionIncised wounds, or cuts, in body tissue are commonly caused by knives, metal edges, broken glass or other sharp objects. The degree of bleeding depends on the depth and extent of a cut. Deep cuts may involve blood vessels and may cause extensive bleeding. They may also damage muscles, tendons and nerves

Incision

Open Wounds

C. Lacerations Lacerations are jagged. Irregular or blunt breaks or tears in the soft tissues. Bleeding may be rapid and extensive. The destruction of tissues is greater in laceration than in cuts. The deep contamination of wounds that result from accidents increases the chances of infection later.

Lacerations

Open Wounds

D. PuncturesPuncture wounds are produced by bullets and pointed objects, such as pins, nails, and splinters. External bleeding is usually minor, but the puncturing objects may penetrate deeply into the body and thus damage organs and cause severe internal bleeding.

Puncture

Closed Wounds

Closed Wounds

Most closed wounds are caused by external forces such as falls and motor vehicle accidents. Many closed wounds are relatively small and involve soft tissues, an example is a black eye. Others involve fractures of the limbs, spine or skull and damages to vital organs within the skull, chest or abdomen. Massive injury to soft tissues such as muscles blood vessels and nerves can be very serious and can result in lasting disabilities.

Closed Wound

Pain and tenderness are the most common symptoms of a closed wound. Usual signs are swelling and discoloration of soft tissues and deformity of limbs caused by fractures or discolorations. However, If signs of injury are obvious, internal injury is probable when any of the following general symptoms are present.

1. Uncontrolled restlessness and excessive thirst.2. Cold, Clammy, pale, skin, very rapid but weak pulse, rapid

breathing and dizziness.3. Vomiting or coughing out blood or passage of blood in

the urine or feces.

Closed Wounds

Infected Wounds

How to recognize Infected Wounds1. The wound becomes red, swollen, hot and

painful.2. It may or may not have pus.3. There may be fever if the infection gets

worse and spreads to other parts of the body.4. Lymph nodes near the area become swollen

and painful when pressed.

Infected Wounds