1. WOUND CARE MANAGEMENT “A Crash Course”
Alvyn “Joy” C. Halili, PT, CWS, FACCWS
Acute Therapies Manager
Certified Wound Care Specialist
Winter Haven Hospital

2. OBJECTIVES Determine Basics in Wound Healing
Determine/Identify Current Methods in Clinical Assessment
Identify Interventions Appropriate for Wounds Encountered
Aid in Clinical Decision in Discharge Planning or Continued Interventions

3. Contents Review of Skin Anatomy Review of Phases in Healing
Review of the Clinical Team Approach in Wound Healing
Review SOAP for Commonly Encountered Cases

4. REVIEW OF SKIN ANATOMY
Epidermis
BMZ
Dermis
Sub-dermis

5. Stratum Corneum

6. Stratum Lucidum

7. Stratum Granulosum

8. Stratum Spinosum

9. Stratum Basale/Germinativum

10. Basement Membrane Zone

11. DERMIS

12. DERMIS

14. REVIEW OF PHASES IN WOUND HEALING
HEMOSTASIS
INFLAMMATORY
PROLIFERATIVE
REEPITHELIZATION
MATURATION/REMODELLING

15. ACUTE vs CHRONIC
Acute
Sequence of Healing is within the expected time frame of physiologic healing
Chronic
Failed to proceed through an orderly and timely process to produce anatomic and functional integrity, or proceeded through the repair process without establishing a sustained anatomic and functional result

16. THE CLINICAL TEAM Direct Physician, ARNP, PA
Surgeon, Podiatrist, Dermatologist, Pathologist
Infectious Disease (ID)
Pharmacist
Nurses (Enterostomal Nurse, WC Nurse)
Ancillary (PT, OT, Dietary, Orthotist, Prosthetist)
Wound Care Specialist

17. CASE SUMMARY Arterial Insufficiency/Ulcers Venous Insufficiency/Ulcers
Lymphedema
Diabetic Ulcers
Infected/Critically Colonized Surgical Wounds
Pressure Ulcers
Traumatic Wounds
Burns
Atypical Wounds
S – Subjective
O – Objective
A – Assessment
P - Plan

18. Arterial Insufficiency
S – Subjective: Complains of significant levels of pain
O – Objective: ABI, Cardiac History
A – Assessment: distally located wounds, dry wounds, well shaped wounds, no pulse, no hair, poor capillary refill
P – Plan
Keep it dry
Vascular Studies
Offloading – consider weight bearing restrictions
No compression if studies significant for PAD
Refer Vascular consult

19. Venous Insufficiency
S – Subjective: Complains of swelling, weeping, reoccurring problem
O – Objective: ABI, Venous Doppler, Culture
A – Assessment: Irregularly Shaped Wounds, Ulcers on Gaiter Area, Heavy Drainage,
P – Plan:
Keep it dry
Elevation
Compression (35-45 mm Hg), Not Ted Hoses
Consider UNNA Boot/Multilayer Compression dressing
Offloading – consider weight bearing restrictions
No compression if studies significant for PAD
Refer Vascular consult
Dietary Consult

20. Lymphatic System Like Venous S – Subjective:
O – Objective: ABI, Venous Doppler, Culture
A – Assessment: Ulcers can be on Gaiter Area, Heavy Drainage
P – Plan:
Keep it dry
Elevation
Offloading – consider weight bearing restrictions
No compression if studies significant for PAD
Dietary Consult
Lymphedema Specialist (MLD,Compression, exercises)

21. Diabetic
S – Subjective: Complains of pain or no pain at all due to neuropathy
O – Objective: ABI, Hgb A1c, Prealbumin
A – Assessment: distally located wounds, Located on distally weight bearing areas, Charcot Foot Dse
P – Plan
Keep it dry
Vascular Studies
Offloading – consider weight bearing restrictions
No compression if studies significant for PAD
Refer to Podiatrist > Refer to Orthotist
Refer Vascular consult/Surgical Consult
Refer to Infectious Disease

22. Surgical Wounds S – Subjective: Variable, Pain, Fever, Dehiscence
O – Objective: Prealbumin, Tissue biopsy, Culture and Sensitivity
A – Assessment: Determine presence of devitalized tissue
P – Plan
Optimal moisture
Surgical Consult – Surgeon’s protocol/preference
Refer to Infectious Disease
Dietary Consult

23. NECROTIZING FASCIITIS

24. PRESSURE ULCER (PU) Definition:
A pressure ulcer is localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear and/or friction. A number of contributing or confounding factors are also associated with pressure ulcers; the significance of these factors is yet to be elucidated.

25. Intact Skin

26. STAGES OF PRESSURE ULCERS
STAGE I
STAGE II
STAGE III
STAGE IV
DEEP TISSUE INJURY(DTI)
UNSTAGEABLE
Evolving Ulcer, Possible Stage III or IV

27. STAGE I
Stage I: Intact skin with non-blanchable redness of a localized area usually over a bony prominence. Darkly pigmented skin may not have visible blanching; its color may differ from the surrounding area. Further description: The area may be painful, firm, soft, warmer or cooler as compared to adjacent tissue. Stage I may be difficult to detect in individuals with dark skin tones. May indicate "at risk" persons (a heralding sign of risk)

28. STAGE I
Stage I: Intact skin with non-blanchable redness of a localized area usually over a bony prominence. Darkly pigmented skin may not have visible blanching; its color may differ from the surrounding area. Further description: The area may be painful, firm, soft, warmer or cooler as compared to adjacent tissue. Stage I may be difficult to detect in individuals with dark skin tones. May indicate "at risk" persons (a heralding sign of risk)

29. STAGE II
Stage II: Partial thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red pink wound bed, without slough. May also present as an intact or open/ruptured serum-filled blister. Further description: Presents as a shiny or dry shallow ulcer without slough or bruising.* This stage should not be used to describe skin tears, tape burns, perineal dermatitis, maceration or excoriation. *Bruising indicates suspected deep tissue injury

30. STAGE III
Stage III: Full thickness tissue loss. Subcutaneous fat may be visible but bone, tendon or muscle are not exposed. Slough may be present but does not obscure the depth of tissue loss. May include undermining and tunneling. Further description: The depth of a stage III pressure ulcer varies by anatomical location. The bridge of the nose, ear, occiput and malleolus do not have subcutaneous tissue and stage III ulcers can be shallow. In contrast, areas of significant adiposity can develop extremely deep stage III pressure ulcers. Bone/tendon is not visible or directly palpable.

31. STAGE IV
Stage IV: Full thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon or muscle. Slough or eschar may be present on some parts of the wound bed. Often include undermining and tunneling. Further description: The depth of a stage IV pressure ulcer varies by anatomical location. Stage IV ulcers can extend into muscle and/or supporting structures (e.g., fascia, tendon or joint capsule) making osteomyelitis possible. Exposed bone/tendon is visible or directly palpable.

32. DEEP TISSUE INJURY
Suspected Deep Tissue Injury: Purple or maroon localized area of discolored intact skin or blood-filled blister due to damage of underlying soft tissue from pressure and/or shear. The area may be preceded by tissue that is painful, firm, mushy, boggy, warmer or cooler as compared to adjacent tissue.
Further description: Deep tissue injury may be difficult to detect in individuals with dark skin tones. Evolution may include a thin blister over a dark wound bed. The wound may further evolve and become covered by thin eschar. Evolution may be rapid exposing additional layers of tissue even with optimal treatment.

33. UNSTAGEABLE
Unstageable: Full thickness tissue loss in which the base of the ulcer is covered by slough (yellow, tan, gray, green or brown) and/or eschar (tan, brown or black) in the wound bed. Further description: Until enough slough and/or eschar is removed to expose the base of the wound, the true depth, and therefore stage, cannot be determined. Stable (dry, adherent, intact without erythema or fluctuance) eschar on the heels serves as "the body's natural (biological) cover" and should not be removed.

34. WOUND MANAGEMENT Does the patient have what it takes to heal?
Is there infection?
Is there mechanical stress?
Is there necrotic tissue?
Is there swelling, edema?
Is the patient diabetic?
Does the patient have peripheral arterial disease?
Does the patient need financial support?
Does the patient need nutritional support?
Is the drainage controlled?
Who is going to follow through? What available resource do I have in this facility that I can use?

35. ADVANCES IN WOUND CARE Debridement Wet to Dry versus Active Dressings
NPWT (Negative Wound Pressure Therapy)
PLWS (Pulsatile Lavage with Suction)
Ultrasonic Debridement

36. References
Clinical Guide: Skin and Wound Care (Clinical Guide: Skin & Wound Care) Cathy Thomas Hess RN BSN CWOCN (Author)
Wound Care Essentials: Practice Principles Sharon Baranoski (Author), Elizabeth A. Ayello (Author)
Acute and Chronic Wounds: Current Management Concepts, 4e Ruth Bryant (Author), Denise Nix (Author)
Heather Brannon, MD
Wound Care: A Collaborative Practice Manual for Physical Therapists and Nurses Carrie Sussman (Editor), Barbara Bates-Jensen (Editor)