When the skin is injured, such as with a scraped knee, pathogens can potentially enter the body, making proper wound care necessary. A body's response to an injury includes swelling and redness, indicative of the immune system fighting off potential infection. Serious injuries to the brain or spinal cord can lead to lasting disabilities, with severe brain injuries causing mental impairments and spinal injuries potentially causing paralysis.
Injuries and the Body's Response
Injuries to the skin such as scrapes and wounds are common occurrences. When the little girl mentioned in Figure 11.61.1 received her first scraped knee, although it might not have seemed serious, it posed a risk for infection due to the breach in the skin's protective barrier. A scrape can allow pathogens to enter the body, necessitating proper wound care to prevent infection.
The body's immune system reacts to injuries like a scrape by initiating an inflammatory response that includes redness and swelling, symptoms which are also typical for a sprained ankle. In the clinical focus involving Cindy, what seemed to be a minor abrasion from playing basketball, turned out to be more severe, highlighting how injuries can sometimes prove to be more serious than they initially appear.
For serious injuries such as brain injuries or spinal cord damage, the consequences can be much more severe, possibly leading to long-lasting or permanent disabilities. Mild brain injuries, like concussions, usually heal on their own, whereas more severe ones can cause significant impairments. In the case of spinal injuries, these can result in paralysis, which is the loss of the ability to move or feel in certain parts of the body.