SKIN INTEGRITY AND WOUND CARE

BY: Nelson Munthali Dip/RN

By the end of this presentation students should be able to:

Describe factors affecting skin integrity Identify clients at risk of pressure ulcers Describe the four stages of pressure ulcer

development Differentiate primary and secondary wound

healing

objectives

Describe the three phases of wound healing

The skin is the largest organ in the body and it serves a number of functions including: protection, thermoregulation

To protect the skin and manage wounds effectively, the nurse must understand factors affecting skin integrity, the physiology of wound healing and specific measures that promote optimal skin conditions

Intact skin refers to the presence of normal skin and skin layers uninterrupted by wounds

The appearance of skin and skin integrity are influenced by internal factors such as age, genetics and underlying health of the individual as well as external factors such as activity.

Many chronic illnesses and their treatments affect skin integrity

People with impaired peripheral arterial circulation may have skin on the legs that damages so easily

SKIN INTEGRITY

A wound is a break in the skin integrity TYPES OF WOUNDS Accidental wounds: occur when the skin

is exposed to extremes in temperature, exposure to chemicals, excessive pressure, trauma and radiation

Common accidental wounds are abrasions, lacerations and puncture wounds

WOUND

An abrasion is caused when the skin rubs against a hard surface . Friction scrapes away the epithelial layer of the skin, exposing the epidermal or dermal layer

LACERATION: Is an open wound or cut. Most lacerations affect only the upper layers of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, but permanent damage may occur if there is injury to internal structures such as muscles, tendons, blood vessels or nerves.

Accidents involving auto mobiles , machinery or knives may result in lacerations

CONTUSION: Is a wound caused by blunt trauma

abrasions

It is created when tissue is penetrated by a sharp pointed instrument like nails, pins

SURGICAL WOUNDS: They are intentional wounds that vary from simple to superficial to deep.

Puncture wounds

Classification of Wounds • 1) Clean Wound: – Operative incisional wounds that follow

nonpenetrating (blunt) trauma.

• 2) Clean/Contaminated Wound: uninfected wounds in which no or minimal

inflammation is encountered but the respiratory, gastrointestinal, genital, and/or urinary tract have been entered.

• 3) Contaminated Wound: open, traumatic wounds or surgical wounds

involving amajor break in sterile technique that show

evidence ofinflammation.

4) Infected Wound: old, traumatic wounds containing dead tissue andwounds with evidence of a clinical infection (e.g.,purulent drainage

The severity of the wound determines the time for healing, the degree of pain and the probability of wound complication.

OSTOMIES: Are surgical openings in the abdominal wall that allow part of the intestine to open onto the skin.

STASIS DERMATITIS: Is caused by impairment of venous return secondary to varicose veins. Pooling of blood leads to oedema, vasodilatation and plasma extravasation all of which may result in dermatitis

Pressure sores are also called decubitus ulcers or bed sores. They occur when capillary blood flow to the skin is impaired.

These ulcers occur primarily as a result of unequal distribution of pressure over certain parts of the body. Because of decreased blood flow , the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the skin and underlying tissues is impaired. This causes cells to die and decompose and form an ulcer

PRESSURE SORES

If the pressure is not relieved and no treatment instituted, damage may spread and involve the fascia, muscle and bone. Infection commonly occur.

Pressure sore

Stage 1: involves inflammation and reddening of the skin. Any breakdown present during this stage involves only the epidermis. Usually stage 1 ulcers are reversible if pressure is relieved

STAGE II. Ulcer appears as a shallow crater or a blister. It involves the dermis and can penetrate to the subcutaneous layer.

ULCER STAGING

Ulcer involves destruction of subcutaneous layer and capillary beds. The ulcer is not painful but may have foul smelling yellow or green drainage.

Stage III ulcer may require months to heal. STAGE IV: Involves extensive damage to

underlying structures and may extend to the bone. On the skin surface , the wound may appear small but beneath the skin, the tunnels extend away from the opening. They are usually necrotic and have foul smelling drainage

Stage III

At the edges the ulcer may develop a leathery black crust(eschar) which may eventually cover the ulcer. Infectious complications such as osteomylitis are common.

Factors causing ulcer formation include: increased pressure and decreased tissue tolerance.

Pressure can be increased by decreased mobility, decreased activity and decreased sensory/ perceptual ability.

Extrinsic factors that decrease tissue tolerance and increase the likelihood of pressure sore development are: moisture, friction, shearing force. Other contributing factors are: age, malnutrition.

RISK FACTORS

This increases the risk of pressure sore development because inadequately nourished cells are easily damaged. Severely malnourished patients experience weight loss, decreased subcutaneous tissue, and decreased muscle mass. This limit the amount of padding between skin and underlying bone, aggravating the effects of pressure over bony prominences.

ALTERED NUTRITIONAL STATUS

Can occur when patients are confused, comatose or if one is taking medications that alter normal cognitive process. When this occurs, patients are less aware of pressure build up and not reposition themselves as needed to prevent ulceration.

MOISTURE Moisture can predispose the skin to breakdown.

Skin which is continuously exposed to moisture becomes macerated. Incontinence often causes the patient to lie in urine or faeces.

ALTERED MENTAL STATUS

Occurs when two surfaces rub together. When the skin rubs against a hard surface such as beddings, small abrasions may occur.

SHEARING FORCE: Occurs when tissue layers move on each other causing stretching of blood vessels

FRICTION

Pressure sores usually develop over bony prominences where body weight is distributed over a small area with inadequate padding. When in supine, the greatest points of pressure are back of the skull, the elbows, the sacrum, the coccyx and heels. When sitting, the greatest points of pressure are the ischial tuberosities and the sacrum

COMMON LOCATIONS