Definition of Wounds/Wound Types

Definition of Wounds/Wound Types

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. Graze/Abrasion/Erosion

. Puncture Wound

. Incised Wound

. Complicated Wound

Although wounds are given specific classifications there are many that have properties of several specific types; indeed there are seldom any classical wounds apart from those afflicted in the course of elective or other surgical procedures.

Graze/Abrasion/Erosion (Figure 1)

A graze is a superficial denuding of the epidermis with minimal (capillary) bleeding and usually some serum/plasma exudation, often in pinpoint form at first. It arises from abrasion against a rough or hard object such as a road surface.

Figure 1 A graze sustained from contact with a concrete floor. The epidermis is stripped but the dermis is not totally disrupted. Healing is usually rapid with negligible scarring.

Clinical management of grazes involves application of soothing ointments such as silver sulfadiazine (e.g. Flamazine, Smith and Nephew) to encourage rapid epithelialization and prevent infection. Healing is usually complete, uncomplicated, uneventful, and rapid, and usually there is no visible scar.

Moist wound management methods hasten recovery and reduce pain significantly.

Bruising (Figure 2)

Bruising is the result of bleeding and tissue destruction within and under the intact skin, that causes damage to capillary beds or larger blood vessels. Bruising can occur in tissue adjacent to a laceration or without any outward injury. It may be difficult to detect skin bruising in horses because of the skin color and dense hair coat. The extent of the bruise is variable, but where multiple significant bruises arise from relatively trivial trauma then clotting parameters should be checked.

Figure 2 Bruising of the vulva during parturition. There is extensive diffuse bleeding into the tissues without a break in the overlying skin.

Treatment is seldom required, but in some sites (such as eyelids or penis) ice packs or possibly cold-hosing can be used to reduce the local inflammation and control swelling, and minimize further damage to the skin. Healing is usually uneventful and with minimal scarring.

Hematoma (Figure 3)

A hematoma is the accumulation of a large volume of free blood under the skin. Hematoma can be differentiated from edema or inflammatory fluid by the ‘finger press test’. In the case of edema, a finger pressed onto the swelling and then removed will leave an indent that remains visible for some minutes. If the swelling is inflammatory, there will probably be no pitting with pressure; in the case of hematoma the indentation will disappear immediately the finger is removed.

Figure 3 A hematoma resulting from a kick to the perineum of a mare.

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Tags: Handbook of Equine Wound Management

Jul 8, 2016 | Posted by admin in EQUINE MEDICINE | Comments Off

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