Wound Management

Question 1

What are the three principles of wound management?

Answer 1

 Removal of any unwanted material from the wound, including necrotic tissue, biofilms, foreign bodies or non-viable tissue
o Diligent infection control
o Provision of an adequate blood supply

Question 2

What are the methods of debridement?

Answer 2

• Autolytic
• Mechanical
• Enzymatic
• Surgical
• Biological

Question 3

What is primary intention wound healing?

Answer 3

skin edges directly opposed and good healing occurs with minimal scar formation

Question 4

What is secondary intention wound healing?

Answer 4

the wound is left open and closes naturally, usually via a combination of contraction and epithelialisation

Question 5

What is delayed primary intention?

Answer 5

the wound is left open for some time then closed if its found to be clean.

Question 6

When is delayed primary intention indicated?

Answer 6

When infection is present and infectious fluids need to drain away

Question 7

Outline the reconstructive ladder?

Answer 7

Local tissue transfer –> primary closure –> skin graft –> distant flaps –> regional tissue transfer –> free tissue transfer