Acute Wound Care

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

An acute wound is an injury that causes a break in the skin.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

The wound may be deep and cause injury to muscles, blood vessels, nerves, bones, and other body parts. The injury can lead to severe loss of blood and tissues. Treatment may be very painful. Lack of blood supply to the injured area may lead to tissue death. A scar may form on your skin as it heals. You may be at risk for an infection. The infection may spread to other parts or organs of the body. This can be life-threatening. People who smoke, have diabetes, or have a weakened immune system are at higher risk for an infection.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Before your procedure:

• Informed consent is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.
  
  
• An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.
  
  
• Medicines: You may be given the following medicines:
  
  
  • Antibiotics: This medicine is given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.
    
    
  • Medicines to treat pain, swelling, or fever: These medicines are safe for most people to use. However, they can cause serious problems when used by people with certain medical conditions. Tell caregivers if you have liver or kidney disease or a history of bleeding in your stomach.
    
    
  • Td vaccine: This vaccine is a booster shot used to help prevent diphtheria and tetanus. The Td booster may be given to adolescents and adults every 10 years or for certain wounds and injuries.
  
  
• Tests:
  
  
  • Blood tests: You may need blood taken to give caregivers information about how your body is working. The blood may be taken from your hand, arm, or IV.
    
    
  • Wound culture: This is a test to grow and identify the germs that may be in your wound. This helps caregivers learn what kind of infection you have and what medicine is best to treat it. This test may be needed if your wound is infected or contaminated.
    
    
  • X-ray: This is a picture of your bones and tissues in the wound area. You may need to have an x-ray, especially if the wound is near a joint or bone. Caregivers use the pictures to look for broken bones, injuries, or foreign objects such as glass or metal.
  
  
• Local anesthesia: Medicine is used to numb the area of your body where the surgery or procedure will be done. It is usually injected into the skin. It also may be given as a gel or jelly applied to your gums for dental procedures or as a patch. For such areas as the genitals, medicine may be given as a cream on the skin or mucus membranes.

During your procedure:

You will lie on a table on your side, back, or stomach, depending on where your wound is. Numbing medicine may be given to ease the pain. Caregivers will first control the bleeding. Your wound will be cleaned using sterile water or a solution that kills germs. This may be done under high pressure, using a needle or catheter (tube) tip and large syringe. Foreign objects and dirt are removed, and dead tissues cut out. The wound is left open until it heals or closed using stitches, tapes, or skin adhesives. The wound may then be packed and covered with clean bandages.

After your procedure:

You may lie in bed and rest for a while since the procedure may be tiring. When your caregiver sees that you are OK, you may be allowed to go home. If your caregiver wants you to stay in the hospital, you will be taken to your hospital room.

Learn more about Acute Wound Care (Inpatient Care)