The Layers of the Skin

In this week’s newsletter, we will remind ourselves about the different layers of the skin. This is a topic that many of us were taught as part of our training, but which may no longer be quite at our fingertips (so to speak). Still, it is an important subject that underlies everything we do in…

Wound Pain Management

An accurate wound assessment and diagnosis, as described in previous blog posts, is vital for understanding the origin and extent of the wound pain. Once the pain has been fully investigated, pain management strategies can be put into place. Underlying Cause = Underlying Source  many cases, the underlying cause of the wound is also the…

Assessment of Wound Pain

Establishing a thorough pain history should always be the first step in the management of wound pain. Only a full assessment of a wound pain can indicate the cause of the pain and help direct strategies for relief. The fundamental problem faced with the assessment of wound pain is that it cannot be measured directly…

Classification of Wound Pain

Wound pain can be classified in two ways; according to the pattern of occurrence or according to the origin. Both classifications are necessary to completely characterize the pain caused by an individual wound. The classification of pain by occurrence was formalized by Krasner, who devised the following three categories: Noncyclic acute wound pain, Cyclic acute…

Chronic Wound Pain: Is it Really Such a Problem?

A wealth of academic research has been devoted to the assessment, diagnosis and management of wound pain. A review of the resulting literature reveals the full scale of the problem, indicating that the vast majority of patients with chronic wounds, such as pressure ulcers and venous leg ulcers suffer from pain at the wound site…

Clinical Presentation of Arterial Ulcers

Clinical Presentation of Arterial Ulcers

Arterial ulcers are almost always located in the lower extremities; because of the increased distance blood must travel to reach those areas. Arterial insufficiency ulcers are commonly located on the toes, either dorsally or distally. Trauma is a leading precipitating factor in arterial- ulcer development, so potential causes of trauma should be assessed for ulcers…

Pressure Ulcer Stages

Pressure Ulcer Stages

The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel has redefined the definition of a pressure ulcer and the stages of pressure ulcers, including the original 4 stages and adding 2 stages on deep tissue injury and unstageable pressure ulcers.    Pressure Ulcer Stages Stage I – A stage I pressure ulcer presents as intact skin with non-blanchable redness…

Venous Ulcers

Venous ulcers can be debilitating, painful, and challenging to treat for healthcare professionals. It is reported that between 10 and 35% of the population has some form of venous disease and that 80 to 95% of leg ulcers are a result of chronic venous disease (Kline & Sieggreen, 2004). What is Chronic Venous Insufficiency? Chronic…