Radiation injury

Radiation can destroy tissue and ionize and fragment cells.

Radiation can have two basic effects on the body:

• It can destroy cells with heat. Radiation generates heat. This heat can destroy tissue, much like a sunburn does. In fact, the term radiation burn is commonly used to describe the destruction of skin and tissue due to heat.
• It can ionize and fragment cells. Radioactive particles and radiation have a lot of kinetic energy (energy of motion) associated with them. When these particles strike cells within the body, they can fragment (destroy) the cells or ionize the cells — turn the cells into ions (charged atoms) by knocking off an electron. Ionization weakens bonds and can lead to the damage, destruction, or mutation of the cells.

Wound Care along with your physician help care for the radiation injury. Hyperbaric medicine could be recommended in conjunction with wound care.

Wound Care Center
Regional Rehabilitation Institute
2908 Fifth Street (3rd Floor)
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 719-1309

Services are available Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.