Question

Case Study

Salem is a 57 year-old male who has been brought to the Emergency Department with second-degree burn caused by a direct contact to boiling water. The right thigh was the most affected part of his body where he sustained severe redness and multiple blisters. Salem complained of severe pain and his skin was very wet and angry-looking. Salem is known to have asthma since his childhood and has been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis for 2 years. He has no other medical history or health issues. Salem’s vital signs were normal except for the temperature (38.5°C). Blood and urine samples were taken and sent to the lab. Accordingly, Salem was admitted to the surgical ward for medical interventions and close observations.

Q1. There numerous factors that can influence wound healing and repair. For Salem, discuss two factors that can have a negative impact on his inflammation and may result in a delay in his wound healing.

Answer 1

Many factors affect the wound healing process and in case of salem the two main factors that affect the healing process are

1. Age
2. The type of wound

Age - salem is 57 years of age and for individual above 55 years of age will have:

Reduced skin elasticity: As his age is more than 55 that is 57 , their skin loses the elasticity due to degradation in the elastic tissue as well as the  collagen fibers that is present in the outer dermal layer. These elements mainly will provide strength and the flexibility, but they will also help the tissue in our human body to recover and restore to its original state. Since the tissue will become  less elastic as age progress , it is has a harder time returning it to its real and  natural shape and color.

Slower level in collagen replacement: Tied into the reduction in the skin elasticity of the individual is a decrease in the amount of collagen found in the body of salem as age progress . The reduced levels of collagen can hinder the specific wound healing, as it is  required for the  cellular development as well as the  tissue regeneration within all layers of the dermis . So it is an influential factor in wound healing

Type of wound as salem is having a second degree wound it will take more time to heal when compared to a linear wound or a first degree wound. Some second-degree burns will take longer than 2- 3 weeks to heal, and can even cause scaring . Salem is having second degree burns and is having many blisters in bis body and these blisters will also show a negative effect blisters will result in longer time to heal . As the fluid is filled in the blister it will take more time to heal and will take time to absorb the fluid and heal so it will take more time to heal .

These are the main 2 factors that will affect the healing process of the salem negatively