Glossary of wound terms

Acronym Description

Acute Wound There are principally two types of acute wound; traumatic wounds and surgical wounds. Acute wounds follow the three phases of healing without delay.

Albumin (serum) A protein formed in the liver and circulated in the serum. A normal serum albumin level is 3.5-5.0 grams/ dl. Used often as an indication of nutritional status.

Alginate A salt of alginic acid, a colloidal substance from brown seaweed; used, in the form of calcium, sodium, or ammonium alginate, for dental impression materials or absorptive dressings.

Angiogenesis The formation of new blood vessels.

Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) The ratio of the blood pressure in the lower legs to the blood pressure in the arms. Compared to the arm, lower blood pressure in the leg is an indication of blocked arteries (peripheral vascular disease). The ABI is calculated by dividing the higher systolic blood pressure in either the dorsalis pedis or posterior tibial arteries by the higher of the two systolic blood pressures in the arm.

Antimicrobial agents A substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoans. Antimicrobial drugs either kill microbes (microbicidal) or prevent the growth of microbes (microbistatic). Disinfectants are antimicrobial substances used on non-living objects.

Arterial insufficiency Inadequate blood flow in arteries. It may be caused by occlusive atherosclerotic plaques or emboli; damaged, diseased, or intrinsically weak vessels; arteriovenous fistulas; aneurysms; hypercoagulability states; or heavy use of tobacco.

Arterial wound Wounds caused by lack of adequate blood flow and perfusion.

Biofilm A thick grouping of microorganisms that are very resistant to antibiotics and antimicrobial agents and that lives on various body parts, especially teeth, wounds, and implanted surgical devices.

Blanch To cause to become pale, as a bed may be blanched by using digital pressure. Also, to press blood away and wait for return, such as blanching of fingernails and return of blood.

Bulla A circumscribed, fluid-containing, elevated lesion of the skin, usually more than 5 mm in diameter. Also called a blister or bleb.

Bullous pemphigoid A rare, relatively benign subepidermal autoimmune blistering disease of the elderly. It is of unknown origin.

Capillary refill time A test of blood circulation in the fingers or toes. Pressure is applied to a finger or toe until normal color is lost. The pressure is then removed, and, if the circulation is normal, color should return almost immediately, within about 3 seconds. The time may be prolonged by dehydration; a compromise of circulation, such as arterial occlusion; hypovolemic shock; or hypothermia.

Charcot foot A disease affecting patient’s with neuropathy where there is boney remodeling and frequent foot ulcerations.

Chronic wound A wound that does not heal in an orderly set of stages and in a predictable amount of time the way most wounds do; wounds that do not heal within three months are often considered chronic. Chronic wounds seem to be detained in one or more of the phases of wound healing. Acronym Description

Collagen A group of naturally occurring proteins. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content. Collagen, in the form of elongated fibrils, is mostly found in fibrous tissues such as tendon, ligament and skin, and is also abundant in cornea, cartilage, bone, blood vessels, the gut, and intervertebral disc. In muscle tissue, it serves as a major component of endomysium. Collagen constitutes 1% to 2% of muscle tissue, and accounts for 6% of the weight of strong, tendinous muscles.

Collagenase Enzymes which break up collagen.

Colonization When a cluster of bacteria grow on the surface of or within a solid medium. Similar to a biofilm.

Composite dressings Wound dressings which are made up of multiple components. A Band-Aid is an example.

Contamination The presence of extraneous, especially infectious, material that renders a substance or preparation impure or harmful.

Cross-contamination The passing of bacteria, microorganisms, or other harmful substances indirectly from one patient to another through improper or unsterile equipment, procedures, or products.

Cyanosis A physical sign causing bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes. is caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood. Cyanosis is associated with cold temperatures, heart failure, lung diseases, and smothering.

Cytotoxic A chemical or substance that kills living cells.

Debridement The removal of lacerated, devitalized, or contaminated tissue. This can be done surgically, enzymatically, or autolytically.

Dermis The layer of the skin deep to the epidermis, consisting of a bed of vascular connective tissue, and containing the nerves and organs of sensation, the hair roots, and sebaceous and sweat glands.

Diabetic neuropathy A disease of the nerve found in diabetics. When present, it can cause pain, numbness and dyskinesias. Diabetic neuropathy is seen first in the feet.

Edema Swelling. Wound healing is slowed and pain is worsened with .

Epithelium The outer layer of the skin. The epithelium consists of five layers.

Epithelialization The process of the formation of the outer layer of the skin.

Enzymatic debriders Chemical agents that act on necrotic tissue to break it down.

Eschar A dark, dry, slough produced by a thermal burn, by a corrosive application, or by gangrene.

Etiology The cause of a disease.

Excoriation An injury to the skin caused by scratching.

Exudate Fluid that is released from tissues or capillaries due to injury or inflammation.

Fibroblast An immature, fiber-producing cell of connective tissue capable of differentiating into chondroblast, collagenoblast, or osteoblast.

Fibrotic Leathery, bound-down, or scarred tissue. Acronym Description

Films A category of wound dressings that are thin, transparent, semi-permeable and typically adhesive.

Foams A category of wound dressings which absorb exudate.

Full thickness Skin injury involving the dermis and epidermis.

Granulation tissue Newly-formed vascular tissue normally produced in healing of wounds of soft tissue, ultimately forming the cicatrix, typically bright red or pink in appearance.

Gels A wound medication in an aqueous, gelatinous preparation. May be plain or have medications added.

Hydrocolloids A category of wound dressings which are non- to semi-permeable. May promote auto-debridement.

Hypopigmentation The absence or decrease of normal skin coloration for a particular Individual.

Hyperpigmentation The increase or darkening of normal skin coloration for a particular individual. Seen often in venous stasis.

Hyperkeratosis Hard, white/gray/yellow tissue that may surround a wound and indicates pressure.

Induration An area of tissue that is abnormally hardened or sclerotic.

Infection The presence of bacteria or other microorganisms in sufficient quantity to damage tissue or impair healing. Wounds can be classified as infected when the wound tissue contains 105 or greater microorganisms per gram of tissue.

Inflammatory phase of The first phase of wound healing, usually lasting from the time of injury to one week. wound healing

Integumentary Pertaining to the organ of the skin.

Jaundice A yellowing of the skin, often related to liver pathology.

Keratinocyte An epidermal cell which produces keratin. Over 95% of the skin is made up of these cells.

Leukocytes White blood cells in general. There are five different types, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes.

Maceration The softening and breaking down of skin resulting from prolonged exposure to moisture.

Macrophage A large, white blood cell responsible for ingesting invading or pathogenic organisms.

Maturation phase of wound healing The third phase of wound healing which typically lasts from week 2 to 1 year post injury.

Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP’s) Extracellular enzymes which act in the “clean-up” processes of wound healing. Often, abnormally elevated in chronic wounds.

Necrosis Tissue death which may appear as slough or eschar in the skin.

Neutrophil A granulocytic leukocyte which is predominantly found in the inflammatory phase.

Partial Thickness An injury or skin graft which only involved the epidermis.

Petechia Flat, non-blancheable red dots on the skin which may be seen in hepatic or clotting disorders. Acronym Description

Prealbumin A protein in the serum used to assess nutritional status. Also known as transthyretin. Has a much shorter half-life than albumin or transferrin (2-4 days), so it is a better indicator of current nutritional status.

Pressure Injury (PI) An ulcer caused by avascular necrosis of the skin from unrelenting pressure.

Primary closure The reapproximation of torn or incised skin with retentive measures, i.e. sutures.

Proliferative phase of wound healing The second phase of wound healing. This phase typically lasts from one to three weeks.

Proteinase An enzyme which acts specifically to break down proteins.

Purulent Pus forming.

Sanguineous Of or relating to blood.

Secondary closure The process of wound closure which allows for granulation and scar formation.

Secondary dressing The dressing layer applied over the contact dressing layer, usually to provide stability.

Serous Pertaining to the serum, or clear portion of the blood. This is also the part of the blood which does not contain clotting factors.

Serosanguineous Both clear and bloody discharge

Sinus tract A course of path of destruction occurring in any direction from the surface or edge of the wound. It often leads to an abscess. Similar to “tunneling.”

Skin flap Skin transplantation procedure where blood supply connection is maintained-usually full-thickness.

Skin graft Skin transplantation procedure where typically, partial-thickness skin is harvested from one portion of the body and implanted on another part of the body.

Skin tear A traumatic wound that often results from external friction or shearing.

Slough Soft, moist, avascular tissue. It may be white, yellow, tan, or green. It may be loose or adherent.

Telangectasias Small, dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin. May also be called spider veins

Tertiary closure The surgical closing of a wound several days after the injury typically because a wound is too contaminated to close initially. Also known as delayed primary closure.

Transferrin A protein in the blood that binds and transports iron. Used as a marker of malnutrition.

Tunneling A course of path from a wound to deeper tissues. Similar to a “sinus tract.”

Undermining An area of tissue destruction extending under intact skin along the periphery of a wound.

Varicosities A condition involving dilated, tortuous veins usually in the lower extremity or esophagus.

Venous Stasis Ulcer (VSU) An ulceration, usually on the lower extremities, caused by increased interstitial pressure from dilated veins with valve failure.

Vesicles Blisters which are less than 5 mm in diameter.

Wound A disruption in the continuity of cells.

Definitions by www.thefreedictionary.com