Nursing 213

N213: Health Differences Across the Lifespan 3 Study Guide The main focus with these disorders is preoperative teaching. This will help to reduce anxiety and have a positive influence on the patient’s recovery time. If the patient has a condition that is a high- risk for surgical intervention, this preoperative teaching should begin with the diagnosis and treatment plan implementation. 4.1 Disorders Resulting from Tissue Trauma Soft Tissue Trauma These injuries involve the soft tissues in the body and include both open wounds and closed wounds. • Open wounds: Lacerations, abrasions (scratches), puncture wounds, amputations, and avulsions • Closed wounds: Hematomas/bruises and contusions Injuries to the soft tissue can be caused by any type of trauma. They can be mild to severe and may cause pain and blood loss. Focus on immediate first-aid to the injured area according to the needs for the below listed injuries: • Abrasion/scratches: This is a partial loss of skin and may or may not have bleeding present. It is caused by friction, and is when the skin scrapes off. This is common in bicycle accidents and falls. • Laceration: This is a full thickness, or partial loss of skin, and possibly tissue underneath the skin. Penetrating trauma in lacerations can be caused by pressure splitting, cutting, or tearing to the tissues. • Puncture wounds: This is a small wound that bleeds and seals itself off. These are caused by an object poking the skin and may only just penetrate the skin’s surface or completely perforate a body surface all the way through. These are caused by stabs (knives), glass, animal bites, or nails. With these injuries, watch patients for internal bleeding andhemorrhage. • Contusion or bruise/hematoma: These are closed wounds with bleeding seen beneath the skin. A pool of blood can be noted under the skin and may cause swelling. They are caused by strikes with a heavy object, fall, weight to a body part, and motor vehicleaccidents. • Avulsion: This is a full thickness loss of skin or tissue which leaves a flap over or around the wound. Skin tears in the elderly are one form of this injury. It is caused by tearing, pressure, or cutting. • Amputation: These are caused by traumatic crushing or shearing forces that completely remove tissues or actual body parts. • Note: The nurse should understand that soft tissue trauma injuries are most common among young, healthy adults and are due to occupational and recreational type injuries.

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