Wound Types and Healing Guide PDF - Veterinary Science

Wk 7 Wound type: - **Abrasion/Shear** -- A superficial wound involving the loss of the top layers of skin (epidermis), often caused by friction. - **Puncture Wound** -- A deep, narrow wound where the full thickness of the skin is penetrated by a small or pointed object, such as a...

Wk 7 Wound type: - **Abrasion/Shear** -- A superficial wound involving the loss of the top layers of skin (epidermis), often caused by friction. - **Puncture Wound** -- A deep, narrow wound where the full thickness of the skin is penetrated by a small or pointed object, such as a bite or sharp object. These wounds can develop deep infections or abscesses. Bacteria commonly involved include *Pasteurella*, *Streptococcus*, and *Staphylococcus*. - **Laceration** -- A full-thickness wound where the skin is torn irregularly. The point of entry is wider than a puncture wound, and the tissue damage can be extensive. - **Incised Wound** -- A type of laceration caused by a sharp-edged object (e.g., scalpel, glass). These wounds have clean, straight edges and may heal faster than irregular wounds. - **Penetrating Wound** -- A wound that extends into a body cavity such as the abdomen, chest, or pelvis. These injuries can be life-threatening and require immediate veterinary attention. - **Perforation** -- A wound that passes through and exits an organ, potentially causing severe internal damage. - **Avulsion Wound** (including **Degloving, Ischemic Wounds, and Skin Sloughing**) -- A wound where a portion of the body is torn away, resulting in irregular edges and potential loss of blood supply. - **Partial Avulsion** -- Some tissue remains attached, maintaining partial blood supply, which may allow for surgical repair. - **Complete Avulsion** -- The torn body part is completely separated from its original site, meaning reattachment is often not possible. - **Burns** -- Caused by heat, cold, chemicals, or electrical sources. These can range from mild to severe and require appropriate wound management. - **Ballistic/Gunshot Wound** -- Caused by a projectile, leading to significant tissue damage, possible internal injuries, and a high risk of infection. - **Crush Injury** -- A wound caused by significant compression, leading to tissue damage, swelling, and possible necrosis. - **Chronic Fistulae/Sinuses** -- Abnormal openings between organs or structures, which may result from long-term infections or unresolved wounds. **Acute colonisation - redness, swelling, mild pain associated (infection that is brewing)** **Clean contaminated - wound thats created when a non sterile organ (bladder) is entered but no spillage** **Clean wounds - surgical wounds.** **Contaminated - spillage of organ contents - cystotomy, open pyo, enterotomy (GI contents)** **Dirty wounds - older wounds. Greater than 12 hours old.** -  - - 1- abrasion - 2 -- laceration - 3- puncture - 4- degloving Here are your crossword answers along with descriptions: ### **Across:** 4. **Puncture** (8) -- A small external wound caused by a sharp or pointed object, such as a bite, which may lead to deep internal damage and infection risk. 5. **Septic** (5) -- A traumatic wound over 6 hours old or a surgical wound where infection is already present before surgery. 6. **Contaminated** (12) -- A fresh traumatic wound, a surgical wound with a break in asepsis, or a surgical wound with spillage of gastrointestinal contents. 7. **Closed** (6) -- A broad classification of wounds occurring under the skin surface without breaking the skin, such as bruises or contusions. 8. **Abrasion** (8) -- A wound that involves the loss of superficial skin layers, often caused by friction or scraping against a rough surface. 9. **Wound** (5) -- An injury characterised by the disruption of the normal continuity of the body\'s structure. 10. **Burn** (4) -- A type of wound that can occur due to chemical, cold, heat, or electrical exposure. 11. **Aseptic** (7) -- Clean-contaminated wounds occur under **aseptic** conditions with mild contamination. ### **Down:** 1. **Penetrating** (11) -- A wound caused by an object passing through the body or an organ, potentially leading to severe internal damage. 2. **Laceration** (10) -- A wound where the full thickness of the skin is penetrated, but the point of entry is wider than a puncture wound, often caused by blunt trauma. 3. **Incised** (7) -- A type of laceration caused by a sharp-edged object, such as a scalpel, resulting in clean, straight edges. 4. **Contusion** (9) -- A wound typically caused by a blunt blow, leading to ruptured capillaries below the skin surface, commonly referred to as a bruise. 5. **Degloving** (9) -- A severe wound where tissue is completely torn away from a limb, exposing underlying structures such as muscles, tendons, or bones. 6. **Avulsion** (8) -- A wound where the tissue is torn, leaving a flap, which may remain partially attached or be completely separated. Wound healing: **First intention - closed surgically. Heals rapidly. No bacteria present.** **Delayed primary closure - wounds that contaminated, managed openly for 1-3 days before surgically closing** **Secondary closure - heavily contaminated wounds. Extensive damage to the skin and surrounding tissue.** Here's a structured version of the **Phases of Wound Healing in Animals**, incorporating key processes and factors that may affect healing: ### **Phases of Wound Healing in Animals** +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Phase** | **Process** | **Factors That May | | | | Affect Process** | +=======================+=======================+=======================+ | **Inflammation** | - Alerts the immune | - Poor blood supply | | *(0-2 days) slightly | system, prevents | (ischaemia) | | longer in cats* | infection spread, | | | | and initiates | - Contamination or | | | healing. | infection | | | | | | | - The wound becomes | - Presence of | | | sore and swollen | necrotic tissue | | | as platelets | | | | trigger blood | - Underlying | | | clot formation. | conditions (e.g. | | | This attracts | diabetes, | | | neutrophils, | Cushing's | | | which begin | disease) | | | debridement by | | | | engulfing | | | | bacteria and dead | | | | tissue. | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Proliferative | - **Granulation | - Excessive | | Phase** *(3 days to 4 | tissue** forms, | movement (wound | | weeks post-injury)* | creating a | tension) | | | framework for new | | | | tissue growth. | - Poor nutrition | | | This tissue is | (lack of protein, | | | bright red, | zinc, vitamin C) | | | highly vascular, | | | | and resistant to | - Infection or | | | bacteria. | foreign bodies | | | | present | | | - **Epithelialisati | | | | on** | | | | occurs as new | | | | skin cells | | | | migrate across | | | | the wound. | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Remodelling | - Collagen is | - Excessive scar | | (Maturation Phase)** | reorganised and | tissue formation | | *(Weeks to months) 20 | strengthened. The | | | days up to years* | wound contracts, | - Poor oxygenation | | | and normal | (e.g. obesity, | | | function is | chronic disease) | | | restored. | | | | | - Repeated trauma | | | - Scar tissue | to the wound | | | forms, and hair | | | | begins to regrow, | | | | though this | | | | process can take | | | | weeks. | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ - **What does a thrombocyte (platelet) do?**\ Platelets are responsible for **blood clotting (haemostasis)** and help initiate wound healing by releasing growth factors. If a patient has **low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia),** they may experience **delayed haemostasis and an increased risk of haemorrhage.** - **What does a neutrophil do?**\ Neutrophils are **white blood cells** that **fight infections** through **phagocytosis,** engulfing and destroying bacteria and dead tissue during the inflammatory phase. If a patient has **neutropenia (low neutrophil count),** they will have a **weakened immune response, increasing the risk of infections.** - **What does a macrophage do?**\ Macrophages also perform **phagocytosis** but play a key role in **promoting homeostasis and stimulating tissue repair** during the proliferative phase by releasing growth factors. If a patient has **macrophage dysfunction,** they may experience **wound breakdown, delayed healing, and an increased risk of infection.** - **What does a fibroblast do?**\ Fibroblasts **produce collagen and lay down new connective tissue** during the proliferative phase, helping to strengthen and repair the wound. If a patient **lacks fibroblast activity,** new tissue formation will be impaired, leading to **poor wound contraction and delayed healing.** - **What do endothelial and epithelial cells do?** - **Endothelial cells** help **form new blood vessels (angiogenesis)** to support tissue repair. - **Epithelial cells** contribute to **epithelialisation**, where new skin cells migrate to cover the wound. If a patient **fails to produce new epithelial cells,** the wound remains open, increasing the **risk of infection and disease, as the skin is the body\'s first line of defence.**  **Pseudo-healing in cat wounds** occurs when the surface of the wound appears to have healed, but the deeper layers of skin and tissue have not properly repaired. This can lead to hidden infections, abscess formation, and delayed healing, as bacteria may be trapped beneath the closed outer layer. So basically Pseudo-healing happens when a wound looks healed on the surface, but the deeper layers aren't fully repaired. This can lead to the wound breaking down more easily. Local factors (area of wound) affecting wound healing are - Tension - Infection/inflammation - Movement - Stitches or not? - Moisture - Closed or open wound - Depth - Blood supply So systemic factors that would affect wound healing would be - Medical conditions - Health issues - Shock - Medications (steroids) - Life stage - Vaccinations - Stress/cortisol - Blood disorders/pressure - Specie Patient and the owner\'s factors that would affect healing would be - Competent - Compliance - Exercise load - Housing situations, friends or not? - Working animal - Owners\' ability - Hygiene - Pain/patient interference - Poor nutrition they need a complete diet to heal properly - Age of the patient