Bed rest and its complications

Bed rest causes complications such as loss of muscle mass, strength and tone; soft tissue change, osteoporosis (bone demineralisation), degenerative joint disease, increased heart rate, decreased cardiac reserve, decreased venous flow, orthostatic hypotension with dysregulated sense of balance, increased risk of pulmonary infections, mental health problems, progressive increase…

What is the difference between a wound and an ulcer?

A wound is caused by an external force whereas an ulcer is caused by an internal problem. That was the short answer. The more extended explanation is the following: In an ulcer, the primary tissue breakdown is internal, i.e. the lesion is caused by an underlying disease or…

What is necrosis?

Necrosis is the cell death that takes place when they have been damaged irreversibly. Necrotis tissue is dead tissue or tissue injured beyond repair - non-viable tissue. This can be a portion of soft tissue or an organ. It is often present in wounds and in order for…

What is debridement? And what types of debridement exist?

Debridement is the process of removal of non-viable tissue (necrosis) and foreign material, e.g. sand, from a wound to expose healthy tissue. A wound containing necrotic tissue cannot heal. Necrotic tissue provides an ideal growth medium for bacteria.   There are five major techniques of debridement: Autolytic debridement:…

What is Biofilm?

Biofilm is a mucous substance that bacteria secrete and in which they embed themselves. Biofilms are part of the bacterial defences against the immune system and constitute a barrier to the body’s immune cells as these encounter considerable difficulties penetrating the biofilm in order to target the bacteria…

What is capillary action / capillary forces?

Capillary action is the movement of water within the spaces of a porous material due to the forces of adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension. In less technical terms, capillary action occurs because water is sticky, which means that water molecules stick to each other and to other materials.…

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