Acute wounds
- An acute wound occurs on a site with normal trophicity at a specific time from a known mechanism (burn, cut, etc.). Its depth is variable depending on the type of trauma. Acute wounds usually heal rapidly and uneventfully
- An acute wound can become chronic (longstanding) : These are acute wounds that occur in a site with reduced trophicity or in a person with underlying risks of delayed healing (diabetes, malnutrition, immobility etc.).
- Acute wounds are classified into several categories:
Clean wound with no loss of substance (read more...)
Examples: cut, post surgical wound. This type of wound will heal after the edges are brought together by :
- an adhesive suture (strips) for superficial wounds
- a surgical suture for deeper wounds.
Healing will be quick (5 to 15 days depending on the skin thickness). The result will be aesthetically and functionally satisfactory with a linear scar.
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Extensive superficial wounds or skin abrasions (read more...)
There is a partial separation in the dermal-epidermal junction.
The tops of the papillae disappear but there are still some islands within the epidermis of basal and germinative cells which will result in spontaneous healing.
Intact basal cells will multiply and healing will take place from the deeper layers upwards towards the surface layers.
An initial pinkish and fragile neo-epidermis will be formed within 10 to 12 days.
This will be referred to as first-line healing, in other words, spontaneous healing which will not result in any scar or slight change to the skin appearance.
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Full thickness wound with loss of tissue (read more...)
Loss of tissue is the consequence of a serious trauma and affects the entire thickness of the skin, with a complete interruption of the dermal-epidermal junction.
If the loss of tissue is extensive, it is impossible to bring the edges of the wound together by suturing.
Secondary intention healing of the wound should occur; this will be referred to as directed healing.
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There are different types of acute wounds
