Search Results for: debridement

Types of Wound Debridement

Types of Wound Debridement

Debridement is the removal of foreign material, devitalized tissue, or contaminated tissue from the wound bed. Debridement is an important procedure that greatly affects how a wound will heal. Necrotizing tissue has a negative effect on wound healing. Removal by medical intervention is often necessary.  Many wound dressings provide sufficient debridement without further intervention. Wound…

Debridement Methods

Debridement Methods

The four main types of debridement are: autolytic, enzymatic, mechanical and surgical. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at each method individually: Autolytic debridement This form of debridement uses the body’s own processes (enzymes and moisture) to break down tough eschar and slough. It does not damage healthy skin, but breaks…

The Support (or Lack Thereof) for Serial Debridement

The Support (or Lack Thereof) for Serial Debridement

Although many of us intuitively know that serial debridement works (we’ve seen the results), as healthcare professionals we must base our practice on evidence-based knowledge. I went searching for the evidence to support this practice and was surprised that I could not find reams of studies supporting serial debridement. If we know it works and…

Wound Debridement

Wound debridement is the removal of non-viable tissue from the wound bed to encourage wound healing. Wound debridement is an essential part of wound care and its role in the preparation of the wound bed is well documented.  (Falanga, 2001; EWMA, 2004; Wolcott et al, 2009). Use the resources below to learn more about wound debridement. Read our article…

Biological Debridement | Wound Debridement Techniques

Our final technique in this short series on wound debridement is biological debridement, a technique based on the use of maggots to remove necrotic tissue from a chronic wound. Biological Debridement History Historically, larvae have been used in wound management for centuries, notably in the Napoleonic Wars and then the American Civil War.1 The technique…

Surgical Debridement | Wound Debridement Techniques

What is Surgical Debridement? Surgical debridement is similar to sharp debridement in that it relies on the use of forceps, scissors, or a scalpel to remove devitalized tissue, debris or other foreign materials from the wound bed.(1–3) However, unlike sharp debridement, surgical debridement is carried out in a sterile, operating-room environment in order to reduce…

Sharp Debridement | Wound Debridement Techniques

Another week has passed, and this week we turn to sharp debridement in our brief series on the different techniques available for debriding wounds. What is Sharp Debridement? Sharp debridement refers to the use of forceps, scissors, or a scalpel to remove devitalized tissue, debris or other foreign materials from a wound bed.(1–3) After surgical…

Mechanical Debridement | Wound Debridement Techniques

Continuing our review of techniques used for wound debridement, this week we take a brief look at mechanical debridement. What is Mechanical Debridement? As its name suggests, mechanical debridement requires the use of a certain amount of force to remove devitalized tissue, as well as debris and other foreign material, from a wound bed. (1–3)…

Wound Debridement Techniques: Enzymatic Debridement

Wound Debridement Techniques This week, in a continuation of our series on wound debridement techniques, we turn our attention to enzymatic debridement. Like autolytic debridement which we covered last week, enzymatic debridement relies on the use of enzymes to remove devitalized tissue.(1–3) However, in this case the enzymes are supplied externally (exogenously) rather than internally…