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Abrasion:
Wearing away of the skin through some mechanical
process (friction or trauma). |
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Abscess:
Accumulation of pus enclosed anywhere in the body. |
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Cellulitis:
Inflammation of the tissues indicating a local infection; characterised by redness, oedema and tenderness. |
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Collagen:
Main supportive protein of the skin. |
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Colonised:
Bacteria which exist in an area (wound) in sufficient number to cause local or
systemic signs and symptoms; not an infection. |
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Debridement:
Removal of foreign material and devitalized or contaminated
tissue from a wound until healthy tissue is exposed. |
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Dehiscence:
Separation of wound edges. |
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Denude:
Loss of epidermis. |
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Epidermis:
Outermost layer of the skin. |
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Erode:
Loss of epidermis. |
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Erythema:
Diffuse redness of the skin. |
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Eschar:
Thick, leathery black crust; it is nonviable
tissue and is colonised with bacteria. |
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Excoriation:
Linear scratches on the skin. |
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Exudate:
Accumulation of fluids in a wound. |
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Friction:
Rubbing that causes mechanical trauma to the skin. |
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Full-thickness:
Tissue destruction extending through the dermis to involve subcutaneous level and possibly
muscle, fascia or bone. |
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Granulation:
Formation of connective tissue and many new capillaries in a full-thickness wound;
typically appears as red and cobblestoned. |
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Hydrophillic:
Attracting moisture. |
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Infection:
Overgrowth of microorganisms
in sufficient quantities to overwhelm the body's defenses. |
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Lesion:
Broad term referring to wounds, sores. |
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Maceration:
Softening of tissue by soaking in fluids; looks like "dishpan hands." |
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Necrotic:
Dead. |
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Oedema:
Swelling. |
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Partial-thickness:
Wounds that extend through the epidermis and may involve the dermis;
these wounds heal by re-epithelialisation. |
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Periwound:
The area immediately around the wound. |
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Pus:
Thick fluid composed of leukocytes, bacteria, and cellular debris. |
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Shear:
Sliding of skin over subcutaneous tissues and bones
causing a kink in cutaneous capillaries which may lead
to ischaemia. |
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Stage I Pressure Ulcer:
An observable pressure-related alteration of intact skin whose indicators, as compared to an adjacent or opposite area on the body, may include changes in one or more of the following: skin temperature (warmth or coolness), tissue consistency (firm or boggy feel), and/or sensation (pain, itching). The ulcer appears as a defined area of persistent redness in lightly pigmented skin, whereas in darker skin tones, the ulcer may appear with persistent red, blue or purple hues. |
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Stage II Pressure Ulcer:
Involves the epidermis, dermis or both. It is a
superficial wound and may present as an abrasion, blister
or shallow crater. |
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Stage III Pressure Ulcer:
Involves subcutaneous tissue that may extend down to, but not through,
underlying fascia. It may present as a deep crater with
or without undermining of tissue. |
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Stage IV Pressure Ulcer:
Involves muscle, bone or supporting structures. Undermining
or sinus tracts may also be present. |
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Sinus tract:
A course or pathway which can extend in any direction from the
wound base; results in dead space with potential for abscess
formation. |
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Slough:
Stringy, necrotic tissue; usually yellow. |
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Strip:
Removal of epidermis by mechanical means, usually tape. |
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Ulcer:
Loss of epidermis/dermis or mucous membrane with definite margins. |
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Undermine:
Skin edges of a wound that have lost supporting tissue under intact skin. |
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Unstageable Pressure Ulcer:
Covered with eschar or slough which prohibits complete assessment of the wound. |
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Wound:
A break in the integrity of the skin; an injury to the body which causes
a disruption of the normal continuity of the body structures. |
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Wound margin:
Rim or border of a wound. |
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