Wound Care Definitions

 Wound:

A type of injury in which the skin has broken down due to lack of proper blood supply, trauma, tears, cuts or punctures and other stresses with potential for infection and widespread damage to surrounding tissues

Chronic Non-Healing Wound:

A wound which has resisted healing after months and even years of traditional treatment. The objective is to treat not only the wound but to also address the underlying issue that is causing the wound.

Clean Wound:

A wound that contains a small amount of bacteria (germs) that can be managed by good hygiene and conservative measures and responds to the body’s own defenses

Contaminated Wound:

The body must combat these bacteria so the wound does not progress to an “infected wound” which has bacteria that requires medicines including antibiotics, debridement  and other advanced therapies.

Infected Wound:  

 A wound that contains a large amount of bacteria that may invade surrounding tissues. There is often pain, redness, swelling, heat and pain in the infected area. This requires medical attention and often antibiotics are prescribed. These wounds may progress to more significant problems such as cellulitis, osteomyelitis (infection of the bone), gangrene and amputation.

Compression Therapy:

Stockings, wraps or a pump used to reduce swelling, or edema, in the legs. Compression therapy helps the veins transport blood back to the heart from the legs.

Debridement:

Infected Wound:

A wound that contains a large amount of bacteria that may invade surrounding tissues. There is often pain, redness, swelling, heat and pain in the infected area. This requires medical attention and often antibiotics are prescribed. These wounds may progress to more significant problems such as cellulitis, osteomyelitis (infection of the bone), gangrene and amputation.

Offloading:

Relieving pressure from the wound - this may be an essential component of the treatment plan, especially the treatment of wounds of the lower extremities and feet. Offloading devices include crutches, special shoes, ambulation devices (wheelchairs, walkers) and special mattresses and cushions.

 Wound Risk Factors:

 These are conditions which promote wounds and have a negative impact on healing. Some of these factors are pressure over bony areas, smoking, obesity, immobility, poor-fitting shoes, diabetes, structural abnormalities of the feet, varicose veins, arterial vascular disease.

 Ostomy:

 Certain diseases of the bowel or urinary tract involve removing all or part of the intestine or bladder. This creates a need for an alternate way for feces or urine to leave the body. An opening is surgically created in the abdomen for body wastes to pass through. The surgical procedure is called an ostomy. The opening that is created at the end of the bowel or ureter is called a stoma, which is pulled through the abdominal wall. The three most common types of ostomies are colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy.

 Colostomy:

 A colostomy is a when a small portion of the colon (large intestine) is brought to the surface of the abdominal wall to allow stool to be eliminated. A colostomy may be temporary or permanent. A permanent colostomy usually involves the loss of the rectum.
A colostomy might be performed due to cancer, diverticulitis, or other diseases or trauma of the colon.

 An ileostomy is an opening created in the small intestine to bypass the colon for stool elimination. The end of the ileum, which is the lowest part of the small intestine, is brought through the abdominal wall to form a stoma. Since the muscle of the rectum is left in place, there is control over bowel movements.An ileostomy might be performed due to ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, or polyps.