Surgical Tech Certification

• No post op swelling
• No serous discharge
• No local infection
• No separation of wound edges
• Minimal scar formation

• Lag phase
• Proliferation phase
• Maturation phase

• Exudates containing blood, lymph and fibrin begin clotting/binding cut edges together
• Fibrin, clotting blood and serum protien dry out , forming scab
• Leukocytes remove bacteria and damaged tissue debris

• Fibroblasts multiply rapidly, bridging wound edges and secrete collagen which forms fibers
• Tensile strength grows rapidly because of collagen
• New cells are formed

• Scar forms
• Collagen reforms into cross-links that increase tensile strength
• As colagen density increases, vascularity decreases and the scar grows pale

Occurs when an infection is present. Healing occurs by process of granulation from the inside out. Usually used if the wound cannot be approximated due to infection, necrosis or tissue damage. Scar formation is excessive.

Caused by injury or mechanical irritation such as boot rubbing, scraping, or being injured with sandpaper

A portion of the skin and soft tissue is partially or completely torn away

A bruise in which the skin is not broken but the tissue below the surace is damaged and the blood vessels have ruptured causing discoloration

A wound that has been squeezed or forced by pressure that alters or destroys the tissue structure

Wound with smooth edges made by a cutting instrument; may be contaminated (glass wound) or clean (scalpel)

Tear in the tissue with irregular edges

Hole in which foreign object both enters and exits from the cavity

Wound made by a sharp, pointed instrument

Chemical, thermal or other extrinsic agent or force injures living body tissue

Skin is intact, but the underlying tissue is injured

Skin is broken

Skin is interrupted but without loss or destruction of underlying tissue

Skin and underlying tissues are injured or destroyed by crushing, burning or implantation of a foreign object

• Conditions surrounding the injury and/or object that caused it are relatively clean
• Wound is cared for within 6 hours after it occurs and heals

• Conditions surrounding the injury and/or the object that caused it are not clean
• The wound is over 6 hours old
• Heals by second or third intention

• Elective procedure, wound made under ideal conditions
• Primary clousre, no drain
• No breaks in aeseptic technique
• No inflammation present
• Alimentary, genitourinary, respiratory tract or oropharyngeal cavity not entered

• Primary closure, wound drained
• Minor breaks in aseptic technique occured
• No inflammation present
• Alimentary, genitourinary, respiratory tract or oropharyngeal cavity entered under controlled conditions with no contamination or spillage

• Open, traumatic wound, less than 4 hours old
• Major break in aseptic technique occured
• Acute, nonpurulent inflammation present
• Gross contamination, such as spillage from gastrointestinal tract
• Entry into billiary or genitourinary tract with infected bile or urine present

• Traumatic wound over 4 hours old from a contaminated source or presence of necrotic tissue, FB or fecal matter
• Microbial contamination present may be purulent or a known clinical infection
• Presence of a perforated organ such as the bowel

Similar to second intention healing except:

When a wound is infected at the time of surgery, suturing is delayed until the infection subsides

When a sutured wound becomes infected after surgery, primary sutures are moved and secondary sutures are put in after infection subsides

While waiting for infection to improve, the wound begins to heal by granulation and the two surfaces tissue are now united by the delayed or secondary sutures

A separation of the layers of the surgical wound

Protrusion of the internal organs while the wound remains closed