Types of wound Acc.

To the likelihood and degree of contamination

1. Clean wounds

- Uninfected wounds which minimal inflammation is encountered & the respiratory,

alimentary, genital & urinary tracts are not entered.

- Primarily closed wounds

2. Clean Contaminated wounds

- Surgical wounds in w/c respiratory, alimentary, genital or urinary tract has been
entered.

- Such wounds show no evidence of infection.

3. Contaminated wounds

- Include open, fresh, accidental wounds & surgical wounds involving a major break
in sterile technique or a large amount of spillage from the GIT.

- Shows no evidence of inflammation

4. Dirty or infected wounds

- Include wounds containing dead tissue & wounds with evidence of a clinical
infection such as purulent drainage

Classification of body wounds

1. Intentional

- Occurs during therapy

- Ex. Operations, venipuncture

2. Unintentional

- Accidental

- Ex. Fracture on an arm in an automobile collision

Classifications of wound by depth

1. Partial thickness

- Confined to the skin, that is, the dermis & epidermis, heal by regeneration.

2. Full thickness
 - Involving the dermis, epidermis, subcutaneous tissue and possibly muscle and
bone; require connective tissue repair.

Types of wounds acc. To how they are acquired

1. Incision

- From a sharp instrument

- Open wound, deep or shallow

2. Contusion

- Blow from a blunt instrument

- Closed wound, skin appears ecchymotic (bruised) because of damage to the blood
vessels.

3. Abrasion

- Surface scrape either unintentional or intentional

- Open wound involving the skin.

4. Puncture

- Penetration of the skin & often the underlying tissues by a sharp instrument either
intentional or unintentional.

- Open wound

5. Laceration

- Tissues torn apart, often from accidents

- Open wound; edges are often jagged

6. Penetrating wound

- Penetration of the skin & the underlying tissues usually unintentional