Revista Enfermería Herediana

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20453/renh.v18i2.7244

2025, July-December | Volume 18, Issue 2, e7244

Nursing strategies in the care of post-traumatic wounds

Jessica Alejandra Lizarazo Roncancio1 https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6935-9268, Licette Yohana Pedraza Cepeda1 https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2084-2296, Carlos Arturo Pineda Barrera1 https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9336-4477

1 Fundación Universitaria de San Gil (Unisangil), Nursing Program. Yopal, Colombia.

Dear Editor:

The review of the clinical case published by Niño et al. (1) regarding the treatment of post-traumatic cellulitis in a patient invites reflection on the importance of clinical judgment within the nursing profession for the management of soft tissue infections, considering that this research study represents a significant contribution to the professional nursing practice, particularly in primary clinical settings and in resource-limited environments.

Cellulitis is defined as a bacterial infection that affects the deep layers of the skin. Its diagnosis is primarily established through physical examination and medical history; only in specific cases are cultures or other complementary diagnostic tests requested to identify the etiologic agent (2).

This condition may develop when a breach in skin integrity allows the entry of microorganisms, mainly bacteria. If not promptly controlled, the infection may spread to the lymph nodes and bloodstream, rapidly compromising the patient’s life (3). Cellulitis commonly involves the reticular dermis and hypodermis and may cause permanent damage to lymphatic tissue. Clinically, the affected area is characterized by increased local temperature, edema, pain, erythema, and irregular borders (4).

On the other hand, soft tissue infections are diseases with a high global prevalence rate and represent one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization. Furthermore, they may lead to complications that negatively impact the patient’s quality of life, such as tissue loss, amputations, or even death (5).

The clinical case clearly demonstrates how nursing professionals’ clinical judgment enables the identification of changes in the patient’s progress. In the same way, the application of the NANDA, NIC, and NOC taxonomies, together with assessment based on Marjory Gordon’s eleven functional health patterns, ensures comprehensive care focused on the patient’s physical, emotional, and social needs (1).

Corresponding author:
Carlos Arturo Pineda Barrera
Contact: cpineda2@unisangil.edu.co

Sent: October 29, 2025
Accepted: December 2, 2025
Online: December 21, 2025

REFERENCES

  1. Niño PY, Pineda CA, Orduz CS. Cuidados de enfermería en paciente con celulitis postraumática: estudio de caso. Rev Enferm Herediana [Internet]. 2025; 18(1): e6534. Available from: https://doi.org/10.20453/renh.v18i.2025.6534

  2. Jiménez LA. Celulitis. Rev Méd Sinerg [Internet]. 2017; 2(6): 6-9. Available from: https://www.medigraphic.com/pdfs/sinergia/rms-2017/rms176b.pdf

  3. Mayo Clinic. Celulitis [Internet]. Mayo Clinic; May 6, 2022. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/es/diseases-conditions/cellulitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20370762

  4. Ortiz-Lazo E, Arriagada-Egnen C, Poehls C, Concha-Rogazy M. Actualización en el abordaje y manejo de celulitis. Actas Dermosifiliogr [Internet]. 2019; 110(2): 124-130. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ad.2018.07.010

  5. Andrade GM, Crespo TA, Gomez AV, Campos DN. Proceso de atención de enfermería en adolescente con celulitis de miembro superior izquierdo. J Sci Res [Internet]. 2022; 7(núm. especial): 435-454. Available from: https://revistas.utb.edu.ec/index.php/sr/article/view/2733

© 2025 The authors. Published by Revista Enfermería Herediana.