It is sometimes easy to forget when we are caught up in complex treatment protocols, or when we are surrounded by paperwork, that the one thing that really matters in wound management is achieving wound closure. When a wound has closed properly, our work is done. Given the fundamental nature of wound closure, it is…
The healing of an acute wound follows a well-ordered pattern through a number of defined phases. Often, acute wounds heal themselves without coming close to a wound care specialist. Unfortunately, as all wound care practitioners know, a large proportion of wounds fail to follow this well-understood path and prove more difficult to heal. These are…
To some, nanotechnology sounds new and exciting; to others it sounds threatening. However, the truth is that nanotechnology is already with us. Indeed, wound management is actually one clinical application that has so far gained most from this technology. Silver Nanoparticles We are all familiar with the use of silver as an antimicrobial agent in…
An accurate wound assessment and diagnosis, as described in previous blog posts, is vital for understanding the origin and extent of the wound pain. Once the pain has been fully investigated, pain management strategies can be put into place. Underlying Cause = Underlying Source many cases, the underlying cause of the wound is also the…
Wound dressings are sometimes described as passive, active, or interactive. While passive wound dressings simply serve a protective function, active dressings actually promote healing through the creation of a moist wound environment. Interactive wound dressings, on the other hand, not only create a moist wound environment but also interact with the wound bed components to…
Gauze has been used as a wound dressing for centuries, and continues to be the most readily available wound dressing in use today. A wide variety of gauze dressings are available, with choices to be made between sterile and non-sterile types, gauzes with and without an adhesive border, and woven and non-woven gauze dressings. Woven…
Old habits die hard. Sometimes we do things a certain way simply because it is the way it has always been done. This is true even in medicine. We often get stuck in a rut of practicing a certain way through habit, and for no other reason. Common Wound Care Practice Across the Decades Wound…
Wound infections are a common concern, and one of the key indicators of infection is purulent drainage. If you’ve noticed unusual fluid oozing from a wound, you’re probably dealing with a form of purulent drainage. WoundEducators will help you understand what purulent drainage is, what causes it, and how to treat it. What is Purulent Drainage? Purulent…
The 2019-2020 outbreak of Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is proving to have quicker transmissibility than SARS. With many school closures and increased burden on healthcare facilities, it’s important to educate yourself and be prepared. Know the Facts About Coronavirus The virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, been contracted by over 132,000 people and counting. The spread…
Antibiotics are commonly used in infected and critically colonized wounds to eradicate the infection and allow the wound to follow the normal physiological healing pathway. However, although prophylactic antibiotics are not recommended due to the risk of building host resistance, antibiotics also have an important role in preventing infection in the specific case of surgical…
