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Debridement is the removal of unhealthy tissue Ôomplications are rare, but no procedure is
from a wound to promote healing. It can be completely free of risk. If you are having a
done by surgical, chemical, mechanical, or debridement, your doctor will review a list of
autolytic (using your body's own processes) possible complications which may include:
removal of the tissue.
!| ïain
!| pleeding
!| Infection
!| Delayed healing
!| ?emoval of healthy tissue with
mechanical debridement

Factors that may increase the risk of

complications include:

!| Infection
!| ïre-existing medical conditions
!| Gmoking
!| Diabetes
!| se of steroid or other
 immunosuppressive medicines
!| ïoor nutrition

!| ïoor circulation
!| Immune disorders
  

Debridement is used to clean dead and
contaminated material from your wound to aid
!| ïhysical exam
in healing. The procedure is most often done for
!| Take a measurement of the wound
the following reasons:
!| ïrovide pain medicine before changing
debridement dressings (for nonsurgical
!| To remove tissue contaminated by
procedures)
bacteria, foreign tissue, dead cells, or
crusting

   

!| To create a neat wound edge to
decrease scarring
!| To aid in the healing of very severe
The following four methods are often used in
burns or pressure sores (decubitus combination:
ulcers)
!| To get a sample of tissue for testing and 
diagnosis
Gurgical debridement is done using scalpels,
 forceps, scissors, and other instruments. It is
used if your wound is large, has deep tissue
damage, or if your wound is especially painful. It

may also be done if debriding your wound is
urgent. The skin surrounding the wound will be 

cleaned and disinfected. The wound will be
probed with a metal instrument to determine
its depth and locate any foreign matter. The
doctor will cut away dead tissue. The wound

will be washed out to remove any free tissue. In

some cases, transplanted skin may be grafted
into place. Gometimes, cutting away the entire
contaminated wound may be the most effective
treatment.

 


A debriding medicine will be applied to your
wound. The wound will be covered with a
dressing. The enzymes in the medicine will
#!
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dissolve the dead tissue in the wound.
!| 
' burns affect only the outer
 
Mechanical debridement can involve a variety
of methods to remove dead or infected tissue.
It may include using a whirlpool bath, a syringe
and catheter, or wet to dry dressings. Wet to
dry dressing starts by applying a wet dressing to
' (full thickness) burns
your wound. As this dressing dries, it absorbs
wound material. The dressing is then
remoistened and removed. Gome of the tissue
comes with it.
 
!"
This form of debridement uses dressings that
retain wound fluids that assist your body's
natural abilities to clean the wound. This type of
dressing is often used to treat pressure sores.
This process takes more time than other
methods. It will not be used for wounds that are
infected or if quick treatment is needed. It is a
good treatment if your body cannot tolerate
more forceful treatments.
 face, hands, feet, and genitals can be
layer of the skin. They cause pain,
redness, and swelling.
!| ' (partial thickness) burns
affect both the outer and underlying
layer of skin. They cause pain, redness,
swelling, and blistering.
!|
extend into deeper tissues. They cause
white or blackened, charred skin that
may be numb.
 !
pefore giving first aid, evaluate how extensively
burned the person is and try to determine the
depth of the most serious part of the burn.
Then treat the entire burn accordingly. If in
doubt, treat it as a severe burn.
py giving immediate first aid before
professional medical help arrives, you can help
lessen the severity of the burn. ïrompt medical
attention to serious burns can help prevent
scarring, disability, and deformity. purns on the
particularly serious.
Ôhildren under age 4 and adults over age 60 
have a higher chance of complications and
death from severe burns. 

!
 "  !!)" 

!| purns can be caused by dry heat (like !| Ôharred mouth; burned lips
fire), wet heat (such as steam or hot !| purns on the head, face, or neck
liquids), radiation, friction, heated !| Wheezing
objects, the sun, electricity, or !| Ôhange in voice
chemicals. !| Difficulty breathing; coughing
!| Thermal burns are the most common !| Ginged nose hairs or eyebrows
type. Thermal burns occur when hot !| Dark, carbon-stained mucus
metals, scalding liquids, steam, or
flames come in contact with your skin.  

These are frequently the result of fires,
automobile accidents, playing with !| Do NOT apply ointment, butter, ice,
matches, improperly stored gasoline, medications, cream, oil spray, or any
space heaters, and electrical household remedy to a severe burn.
malfunctions. Other causes include !| Do NOT breathe, blow, or cough on the
unsafe handling of firecrackers and burn.
kitchen accidents (such as a child !| Do NOT disturb blistered or dead skin.
climbing on top of a stove or grabbing a !| Do NOT remove clothing that is stuck to
hot iron). the skin.
!| purns to your airways can be caused by !| Do NOT give the person anything by
inhaling smoke, steam, superheated air, mouth, if there is a severe burn.
or toxic fumes, often in a poorly !| Do NOT immerse a severe burn in cold
ventilated space. water. This can cause shock.
!| purns in children are sometimes traced !| Do NOT place a pillow under the
to parental abuse. person's head if there is an airways
burn. This can close the airways.
( 


!| plisters
!| ïain (the degree of pain is not related
to the severity of the burn -- the most
serious burns can be painless)
!| ïeeling skin
!| ?ed skin
!| Ghock (watch for pale and clammy skin,
weakness, bluish lips and fingernails,
and a drop in alertness)
!| Gwelling
!| White or charred skin