debridement

Indications

• removal of foreign material & necrotic tissue or damaged tissue

Procedure

• various methods can be used for this purpose:
  • autolytic debridement.
    • use of synthetic dressings to cover a wound & allow eschar to self-digest by the action of enzymes present in wound fluids
  • enzymatic (chemical) debridement
    • topical application of proteolytic enzymes to breakdown devitalized tissue
  • mechanical debridement.
    • removal of foreign material & devitalized or contaminated tissue from a wound by physical forces rather than by chemical (enzymatic) or natural (autolytic) forces
    • examples are wet-to-dry dressings, wound irrigation, whirlpool, & dextranomers
  • sharp debridement
    • removal of foreign material or devitalized tissue by a sharp instrument such as a scalpel.
    • Laser debridement is also considered a type of sharp debridement

More general terms

• general surgery

More specific terms

• debridement for eczema/skin infection
• debridement of bone
• debridement of muscle/fascia
• debridement of necrotizing soft tissue infection
• debridement of skin partial thickness
• debridement of subcutaneous tissue
• nail debridement
• sternal debridement

Additional terms

• topical enzymatic agent

Patient information

debridement patient information