Treatment options for wounds – small animal

Question 1

What are the methods of wound debridement

Answer 1

surgical
mechanical
autolytic
enzymatic
biological

Question 2

Describe surgical wound debridement

Answer 2

removing biofilm and devitalised tissue

Question 3

Describe mechanical wound debridement

Answer 3

irrigation
wet-to-dry dressing
negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT)

Question 4

Describe autolytic wound debridement

Answer 4

body’s own enzymes beneath a dressing to liquify tissues
hydrocolloids, hydrogels, honey, foam etc.

Question 5

Describe enzymatic wound debridement

Answer 5

prescribed topical agent that chemically liquifies necrotic tissues with enzymes

Question 6

Describe biological wound debridement

Answer 6

maggots, lucilia sericata (green bottle flies)

Question 7

What is the best solution to use for lavage debridement?

Answer 7

Hartmann’s - ideal pH and is compatible with tissue

Question 8

Describe wet-to-dry dressing

Answer 8

good at converting chronic granulation bed to a healthy granulation bed
Sterile swabs soaked in isotonic crystalloid solution, place them on wound
Dry swabs placed on top (and further dressing)
Changed every 24 hours

Question 9

Why would a wound be scraped by a no.10 blade?

Answer 9

remove chronic granulation bed to make way for healthy granulation bed

Question 10

describe topical negative pressure wound therapy

Answer 10

When turned on, the pump gently reduces air pressure beneath the dressing, drawing off exudate and reducing oedema in surrounding tissues.
This process reduces bacterial colonisation, promotes granulation tissue development, increases the rate of cell mitosis, and spurs the migration of epithelial cells within the wound.

Question 11

Describe the use of honey in wound healing

Answer 11

Antibacterial effect
Healing stimulating properties
Debriding effect
Anti-inflammatory effect
Odour reducing capacity
Reduction in wound pain

Question 12

Describe the healing stimulating properties of honey

Answer 12

reduction in wound size
reduced healing time
complete healing
stimulation of granulation tissue and epithelialisation

Question 13

Why does honey have good debridement properties?

Answer 13

Low pH (approx. 3.7)
Osmotic effect
Both help draw up fluid from the wound area

Question 14

Why does honey have an antimicrobial effect?

Answer 14

Hydrogen peroxide (glucose oxidase)
Anti-oxidant (flavonoids)
High sugar content (osmotic effect)
Acidic (pH 3.2 - 4.5)
Methylglyoxal (Manuka honey - most commonly used)

Question 15

Why should table honey not be used?

Answer 15

might be sterile (e.g., clostridium)
production process may have effect the activity of hydrogen peroxide and anti-oxidants