Mechanisms of surface soft tissue trauma.
Abrasions, lacerations, and burns are common examples of surface soft tissue trauma seen in emergency care facilities. These injuries are the result of a complex set of wounding mechanisms that can be significantly modified by other important wound variables. Mechanisms of surface trauma can be divided into two categories -- mechanical and thermal. Mechanical forces include shearing, tension, and compression. The last produces the greatest degree of tissue trauma and can complicate wound repair and healing. Thermal injuries are mediated through radiation, convection, conduction, electricity, and excessive cold. Factors that can modify the mechanism of injury are the wounding material and biologic variables, including the anatomic site of injury, underlying health status, and current use of medications. A working knowledge of wounding mechanisms and their related clinical considerations can be useful in the selection of wound management techniques and in predicting eventual wound outcome.
Trott
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Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Ohio 45267-0769.
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002056:Burns / Q000503:physiopathology; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014945:Wound Healing; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000503:physiopathology; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000503:physiopathology; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000503:physiopathology*