Question

 Case Studies, Chapter 32, Skin Integrity and Wound Care

 1. You are a nurse in a medical-surgical unit in a hospital caring for a 27-year-old professional football player who underwent surgery to repair a compound fracture of his femur. The surgery went smoothly and you are responsible for his postoperative care after he returns from PACU. (Learning Objectives 1 and 2)

 a. What is his skin's role in preventing infection before surgery?

 b. Describe how you would expect his wound to heal.

 C. Indicate factors that could affect the healing of his surgical wound.

 d. For which complications would you monitor his wound?

 e. Outline signs and symptoms that might indicate his wound is infected. In what time frame might they appear?

Answer 1

A) Skin is the largest sensory organ of our body . It plays a vital role in preventing infection before surgery because if the skin is infected and it's not treated then it will cause infection to its underlying tissues and the surgery will not possible . So , for the surgery to be conducted it's necessary that the skin is clean ,sterile and free of infection .

B) His wound will heal according to the normal healing process which include certain steps that are :-

- Hemostasis = bleeding occurs and platelets comes into action and stops bleeding.

- Inflammatory = inflammation occurs as a result of lymphocytes and WBC action as a result of fight against foreign agents .

- Proliferative = Proliferative occurs as a result of formation of or growth of new tissue

- Maturation = remodeling occurs and this phase starts with wound closure and freshly healed epidermis and dermis .

C) The factors that could affect healing of the wound are :-

- infection

- improper nutrition

- improper closure of wound

- improper rest and immobility

- high glucose levels

D) The major complication is infection . The nurse should continuously monitor for sign and symptoms of infection like :-

- fever

- redness around the wound

- inflammation of the wound

- pus discharge

- pain increased

The nurse should monitor above signs and should used aseptic technique while providing care to the patient like during dressing etc .