Closed Surgical Wounds
In-closed wounds, primary closure, the skin edges are re-approximated by stitches, staples, tissue adhesives or adhesive strips and left to heal by primary intention. [7]
- Doughty, D. & Sparks, B. (2016). Wound-healing physiology and factors that affect the repair process. In R.A. Bryant & D.P. Nix (Eds.), Acute & chronic wounds: current management concepts, 5th Ed. (pp. 63-81). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Burns
A burn is an injury to tissue that may be caused by dry heat, such as fire or contact with a hot surface, or moist heat, such as steam or hot liquids, chemicals, electricity, lightning, or radiation from either the sun or radiotherapy. Burns vary in severity depending on the extent of tissue damage: superficial, superficial -partial thickness, deep partial thickness, or full thickness. They are classified according to the total body surface area effected by the damage and sometimes classified by first, second, or third degree depending on the depth of the burn. Third degree burns are full thickness. Control of bacteria and reduction of pain associated with dressing changes is very important with burns and antimicrobial dressings can address these concerns. ConvaTec offers dressings that are helpful with burn care both for the burn, and the graft harvest area when skin grafts are required. [1,2]
- Edwards, V. (2013). Key aspects of burn wound management. Wounds UK. 9(Supp 3), 1-9.
- International Best Practice Guidelines (2014). Effective skin and wound management of noncomplex burns. Wounds International. Retrieved from http://www.woundsinternational.com/best-practices/view/best-practice-guidelines-effective-skin-and-wound-management-in-non-complex-burns.
Leg Ulcers
A leg ulcer is the breakdown in tissue on a leg or foot resulting from alterations in either the arterial or venous vessels, or both, in the lower leg. Venous leg ulcers are the most common type of leg ulcers and are the result of poor venous return to the heart resulting in sustained venous hypertension, causing swelling and tissue damage in the lower leg. [5]
- Principles of compression in venous disease: a practitioner’s guide to treatment and prevention of venous leg ulcers. (2013). Wounds International. Retrieved from http://www.woundsinternational.com/best-practices/view/principles-of-compression-in-venous-disease-a-practitioners-guide-to-treatment-and-prevention-of-venous-leg-ulcers.