Wound Management

Class 1 wound

* 0-6 hours old
* Clean laceration
* Minimal contamination

Class 2 wound

* 6-12h old
* Significant contamination

Class 3 wound

* >12h old
* Gross contamination
* Unsure of how wound occured

Contaminated wound

A wound with gross contamination + foreign debris

Abrasion

A wound from blunt trauma/shearing

Avulsion

Tearing of tissue from its attachment

Fibrin seal

Forms within 4-6 hours to protect from microorganisms + prevent fluid leakage

3 way tap

The 3 way component used as part of wound-flush set up

Adherent dressings

Wet-to-wet or wet-to-dry

To debride and control infection

Perforated polyurethane membranes

Melolin + Primapore

Don’t use on granulating wounds!

Paraffin gauzes

Thin cotton netting impregnated w/ vaseline to prevent sticking, and create a moist environment

Absorbent dressings

Allevyn

Active dressings

Hydrocolloids + hydrogels

Antimicrobial dressings

Silver dressings, manuka honey + polyhexamethylene biguanide

Active drains

Closed systems relying on negative pressure

Passive drains

Open systems relying on gravity

Jackson-Pratt drain

Common active drains in practice that have a grenade style collection reservoir

Blake drain

Active drain with 4 channels, rather than 1

Penrose drain

Passive drain, that works via capillary action