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Wound Care

Wound Care. Jennifer L. Doherty, MS, LAT, ATC, CIE Florida International University Dept. of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. Caring for Skin Wounds. Skin wounds are extremely common in sports Soft pliable nature of skin makes it susceptible to injury

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Wound Care

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  1. Wound Care Jennifer L. Doherty, MS, LAT, ATC, CIE Florida International University Dept. of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation

  2. Caring for Skin Wounds • Skin wounds are extremely common in sports • Soft pliable nature of skin makes it susceptible to injury • Numerous mechanical forces can result in trauma • Friction, scrapping, pressure, tearing, cutting and penetration

  3. Types of wounds Abrasions • Skin scraped against rough surface • Top layer of skin wears away exposing numerous capillaries • Often involves exposure to dirt and foreign materials • Increased risk for infection

  4. Types of wounds Laceration • Sharp or pointed object tears tissues – results in wound with jagged edges • May also result in tissue avulsion

  5. Types of wounds Puncture wounds • Can easily occur during activity and can be fatal • Penetration of tissue can result in introduction of tetanus bacillus to bloodstream • All severe lacerations and puncture wounds should be referred to a physician

  6. Types of wounds Incision • Wounds with smooth edges

  7. Types of wounds Avulsion wounds • Skin is torn from body • Major bleeding • Place avulsed tissue in moist gauze (saline), plastic bag, and immerse in cold water • Take to hospital for reattachment

  8. Immediate Care • Should be cared for immediately • All wounds should be treated as though they have been contaminated with microorganisms

  9. To minimize infection, clean wound with copious amounts of soap, water, and sterile solution Avoid hydrogen peroxide and bacterial solutions initially Immediate Care: Step 1

  10. Control bleeding Universal precautions must be taken to reduce exposure risk of bloodborne pathogens Immediate Care: Step 2

  11. Controlling Bleeding • Abnormal discharge of blood • Arterial, venous, or capillary bleeding • Venous - dark red with continuous flow • Capillary - exudes from tissue and is reddish • Arterial - flows in spurts and is bright red • Internal or External hemorrhaging

  12. Internal Hemorrhage • Invisible • May be detected through body opening, X-ray, or other diagnostic techniques • May occur… • Beneath skin • Intramuscularly • Within a joint

  13. Internal Hemorrhage • Bleeding within body cavity could result in life and death situation • Difficult to detect and must be hospitalized for treatment • Could lead to shock if not treated accordingly

  14. External Hemorrhage • Stems from skin wounds, abrasions, incisions, lacerations, punctures or avulsions

  15. External Hemorrhage • Direct pressure • Firm pressure (hand and sterile gauze) placed directly over site of injury against the bone • Elevation • Reduces hydrostatic pressure and facilitates venous and lymphatic drainage - slows bleeding • Pressure Points • Eleven points on either side of body where direct pressure is applied to slow bleeding

  16. Antibacterial ointments are effective in limiting bacterial growth and preventing wound from sticking to dressing Immediate Care: Step 3

  17. Sterile dressing should be applied to keep wound clean Occlusive dressings are extremely effective in minimizing scarring Immediate Care: Step 4

  18. Are Sutures Necessary? • Deep lacerations, incisions, and occasionally punctures will require some form of manual closure • Decision should be made by a physician • Sutures should be used within 12 hours • Area of injury and limitations of blood supply for healing will determine materials used for closure • Physician may decide wound does not require sutures • Utilize steri-strips or butterfly bandages

  19. Signs and symptoms are the same as those for inflammation Pain Heat Redness Swelling Disordered function Pus may form due to the accumulation of WBC’s Fever may develop as the immune system fights bacterial infection Wound Infection

  20. Tetanus • Bacterial infection that may cause… • Fever • Convulsions • Possibly tonic skeletal muscle spasm • Tetanus bacillus enters wound as spore and acts on motor end plate of CNS

  21. Tetanus • Following childhood vaccination, boosters should be supplied once ever 10 years • If not immunized, athlete should receive tetanus immune globulin (Heper-Tet) immediately following skin wound

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