Factors influencing Wound Healing

Factors influencing healing process

• Favorable factors:

• Young age
• An adequate blood supply to the area
• Good general health and stamina
• Adequate nutritional intake especially of protein and Vit.C.
• Minimal tissue destruction
• Presence of tissues that are capable of regeneration
• Absence of infection
• Use of anti infective agents
• Immobilization and rest to the part.

• Unfavorable factors:

• Old age
• Poor health
• Inadequate blood supply to the affected area
• Presence of diabetes mellitus
• Excess use of corticosteroids
• Absence of tissues that can be regenerated
• Presence of infection
• Presence of foreign bodies and traumatized tissues
• Excessive movements of the injured area.

Complications of Wound Healing

There are various complications during the process of wound healing. Impaired wound healing requires observation and ongoing interventions. One must be able to recognize the seriousness of the signs and symptoms that can arise before complications can turn vital.

• Haemorrhage
• Bleeding may indicate a dislodged clot, slipped sutures, coagulation problems, and trauma to blood vessels or tissues.
• This type of bleeding could show up on the wounds dressing
• Internal hemorrhaging can occur inside the cavity of the body while the dressing stays dry and shows no signs of collecting blood.

• Dehiscence:
• this is the medical term for when the wound layers separate.
• Most people may experience this after coughing, sneezing or vomiting.
• Immediately place a sterile dressing over the area until a physician can evaluate the area.
• Evisceration:
• this happens when the abdominal organs protrude through the opening of an incision.
• a medical emergency.
• The wound contents are to be covered in warm, sterile saline dressings.
• This type of complication will require surgical repair.
• Wound infection:
• Most common form of complication of wound healing. A wound is "infected" when it contains purulent drainage.
• The client may display fever, tenderness or pain at the site of the wound, edema and an elevated WBC.
• Purulent drainage will have an odour and depending on the pathogen causing the infection it can be green or yellow in color.
• Pain
• Recurrence of pain at the site of injury should be interpretted as a sign of inflammation and infection.
• Abcess formation
• It is a localized collection of pus.
• It complicates the healing process by enlarging the dead space which must be filled in.
• Cellulitis
• If the inflammation is localized, but extends to the surrounding cells with an edematous appearance of the parts it is called cellulitis.
• Necrosis or Gangrene
• If the blood supply is not restored to the area, the death of the tissues may take place. Its called as gangrene.
• Keloids
• These are huge ugly, tumour like over growths of scar tissues seen in certain individuals.
• Contractures
• Disability and severe deformity occurs when severe injuries are located over a joint and are healed by secondary union.