Soft Tissue Injuries & Care Wounds, open and closed and the appropriate dressing © 2018 Cogent Steps, LLC

Types of Wounds Closed Open Contusions Internal lacerations Ruptured organs and tissues Referral pain patterns Rebound tenderness Shock Open Abrasion Avulsion Amputation Laceration Puncture Burn Blister © 2018 Cogent Steps, LLC

Treatment Minor Major Stop bleeding with pressure Clean, debride Dress Blisters…to pop or not? Major Pressure and add dressings Pack around an impaled object Amputation: place part in bag, then in cold slurry water © 2018 Cogent Steps, LLC

Types of Dressings Gauze Serves as bandages, dressings or sponges. Can stick to wounds when removed. Tulie or impregnated gauze Greasy gauze impregnated with petroleum jelly. Does not stick. Works well for flat or shallow wounds Semi permeable films Polyurethane membrane and acrylic adhesive. Transparency allows for wound visualization. Works well for shallow and low exudate wounds Amorphous hydrogels Used for necrotic or sloughy wound beds to rehydrate and remove dead tissue. Hydrocolloids Semi permeable polyurethane film in the form of a solid. Swells with exudate and forms gel. Light to heavy exudate Alginates Calcium alginate with absorbent fibers. Good for debridement, and heavy exudate wounds. Can cause dryness. Changed daily Collagens Pads, gels or particles promote newly formed collagen, keep environment moist Hydrofibers Soft pads or ribbon dressing made from sodium carboxymethyl cellulose fibers used to absorb exudate and moist environment for packing of deep wounds. © 2018 Cogent Steps, LLC