Chapter 26 Soft Tissue Injuries.docx - Closed Injuries...

Closed Injuries
● Characterized by hx of blunt trauma, pain at site of injury, swelling beneath skin,
discoloration
● Contusion-bruise, causes bleeding under the skin, but does not break the skin
○ Epidermis is intact, but dermis is damaged
■ Small blood vessels damaged
○ Produces ecchymosis
● Hematoma- blood that has collected within damaged tissue or cavity
○ Occurs when large blood vessel is damaged and bleeds rapidly
○ From soft tissue injury or, fracture, or blood vessel injury
● Crushing injury occurs when significant force is applied to body
○ Extent depends on how much force and how long
○ Continued compression cuts off circulation, resulting in tissue damage
● Crush syndrome occurs when an area of the body is trapped for longer than 4 hours
and arterial blood flow is compromised
○ When pt’s tissues are crushed beyond repair, muscle cells dieand release
dangerous substance into surrounding tissue
○ Released after force is removed and blood flow returns
○ Call ALS before force is removed
● Compartment syndrome develops when edema and swelling result in increased
pressure within a closed soft-tissue compartment
○ Develops commonly in extremities
○ Interfered with circulation
○ Increased chance for tissue death
Tissue Wound types
● Abrasions
○ Wound of superficial layer of skin, caused by friction when a body part rubs
on a surface
● Lacerations
○ Jagged cut in the skin caused by a sharp object or a blunt force that tears the
tissue
○ May appear linear or stellate
● Avulsions
○ Injury that separates layers if soft tissue.