A client has a healing abdominal wound. The wound has minimal exudate

A client has a healing abdominal wound. The wound has minimal exudate and collagen for-mation. The wound is identified by the nurse as being in which phase of healing?

1. Primary intention
2. Inflammatory phase
3. Proliferative phase
4. Secondary intention

ANSWER

ANS: 3
During the proliferative phase, the wound fills with granulation tissue (including collagen for-mation), the wound contracts, and the wound is resurfaced by epithelialization. Primary intention is not a phase of wound healing. Wounds that heal by primary intention have minimal tissue loss, such as a surgical wound. The edges are approximated and the risk for infection is low. During the inflammatory phase, platelets gather to stop bleeding, a fibrin matrix forms, and white blood cells reach the wound, clearing it of debris. Secondary intention is not a phase of wound healing. Wounds that heal by secondary intention have loss of tissue, such as a pressure ulcer. The wound is left open until it becomes filled by scar tissue.