Question

A patient sustained several wounds on the legs caused by a fall. On the day after the injuries, the wounds appear red and edematous. The nurse identifies the stage of healing of these wounds as:

1) Inflammatory
2) Proliferative
3) Allergic reaction
4) Remodeling

Answer 1

The wounds' characteristics of redness and swelling signify they are in the Inflammatory stage of healing, which involves vasodilation and fluid leakage as part of the body's response to injury.

Step-by-step explanation:

The red and edematous appearance of the patient’s wounds the day after the injury indicates the wounds are in the Inflammatory stage of healing. This stage is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain due to the release of chemical signals from injured cells, mast cells, and macrophages. These signals cause vasodilation and fluid leakage into the surrounding tissues. The inflammatory stage prepares the wound for the subsequent repair phase, wherein blood clotting occurs and fibroblasts deposit collagen to regenerate the tissue.