Question

446. In assessing the healing of a client wound during a home visit, which of the following is the best indicator of good healing?

Answer 1

Ans) Wound healing is a complex process in which the skin, and the tissues under it, repair themselves after injury. In this article, wound healing is depicted in a discrete timeline of physical attributes constituting the post-trauma repairing process.

As the condition of a wound changes, the tone and hue can give you clues into whether the condition is improving or getting worse. Here’s a brief look at the colors of wounds and what they could mean:

Red:
The “Handbook of Primary Care Procedures” stated that this shade signals the wound is healing normally, creating a layer of granulation tissue that covers the base of the wound. It starts off as pink but as it becomes thicker, it turns into a deeper red or even a hue not unlike red grapefruit. Clear fluid may seep from the wound but this helps to keep the area clean. It could be tender to the touch, so at this stage, the wound should be covered to keep it clean, moist and protected. Use a gauze bandage that contains a sterile saline solution or is coated with antibiotics.

Yellow:
A wound this color, the handbook said, indicates the presence of exudate that is the result of microorganisms that have accumulated. Normally, the body’s immune system removes these germs, but if there is an overabundance of protein and cellular debris, it becomes visible and takes on a yellowish hue. At this stage, a clinician should be alerted. The wound should be irrigated (either with hydrotherapy or high-pressure irrigation) and cleaned of the exudate, then covered with a moist wound bandage.