Treatment of Fresh Traumatic Wounds should everyone should know. Sudden, unplanned injuries that can range from minor to severe are known as traumatic wounds. Traumatic wounds include abrasions, lacerations, skin tears, injuries from accidents, burns, and chronic non-healing wounds.
How to Treat Traumatic Wounds
If traumatic wounds are not effectively treated, it can lead to infection.
Treatment of traumatic wounds includes:
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Wound Debridement
Wound debridement is the first step to take when treating fresh traumatic wounds. Dead tissue, foreign debris, and dead skin must first be removed from the surface of the wound to reduce the number of contaminating bacteria and to make the wound easy to clean. Debridement also allows medications to easily penetrate into the wound for quicker effectiveness.
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Cleaning
Cleaning the wound is the next step after debridement. Cleansing can be achieved through irrigation by cleaning the wound under running water. Cleansing can also be done by using a wet cloth to scrub the surface of the wound. Certain solutions such as chlorhexidine may be useful in cleaning the wound and removing congealed blood and dirt from the wound. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used to remove dirt and particles from the surface of the wound. Cleansing is done to remove all dirt, bloodstains, fluids, and other particles from the surface of the wound.
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Disinfecting the skin around the wound
Before dressing the wound, it is advised to disinfect the skin around the wound with disinfectant to rid the area of infection.
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Dressing
Properly dressing the wound helps to keep the wound dry and prevent dirt and germs from getting into the wound. Dressing the wound keeps the wound safe from external forces such as dirt, germs, and infections. Dressing creates optimal conditions for wound healing.
There are different types of wound dressings such as cloth dressing, hydro polymer foam dressing, transparent dressing, alginates, hydrogels, hydrocolloid, and collagen dressings. The type of dressing used usually depends on the depth of tissue damage, the type of tissue in the wound bed, and the level of exudate coming out from the wound.
When to meet a wound care specialist
If your wound has not started to heal after 2 weeks or has not completely healed after 6 weeks, you should see a wound care specialist. A wound care specialist has the knowledge, skills, and experience to effectively diagnose and treat traumatic wounds.
Evaluation and Management of Traumatic Wounds
During the evaluation of traumatic wounds, the most immediate concern is active hemorrhage. Applying direct pressure can help control a majority of wound hemorrhage. If bleeding does not stop through direct pressure alone, using absorbable collagen or fibrin sealant placed directly on the wound in the area of hemorrhage can often stop the hemorrhage.
Extreme care should be followed when trying to clamp a blood vessel, as this can cause significant damage to the blood vessel. There is also the risk of damage to other vital structures in the area, including nerves, tendons, and adjacent vascular structures.
Wound exploration can commence once bleeding is stopped or controlled. To explore the depth of the wound, it will require a full examination of the surrounding structures such as tendons and joints, and also evaluation for foreign bodies. A focused neurological exam distal to the wound should be conducted to determine if there is any nerve injury. A vascular exam should also be conducted to evaluate the distal pulses, skin color, tactile temperature, and capillary refill. Joints and muscles should also be evaluated for tendon, ligament, or joint injury.
The wound should be thoroughly examined and explored before treatment. The main objective of wound exploration is the removal of any substance, dirt, foreign body, or devitalized tissue that can cause infection and delay or hinder the healing of the wound.
Larger foreign bodies should be manually removed as soon as possible. The wound should be debrided with moist gauze, and afterward irrigated to remove finer particles. Wounds that have high levels of debris contamination should be more aggressively irrigated.
For a wound that has a likelihood of retained foreign body such as broken glass, road rash, metal fragments, or any other penetrating substances, plain film radiographs should be obtained. Plain film radiographs are generally able to detect these foreign objects that are not seen with the naked eyes. The sensation of a foreign body by the patient is an indicator that there may be retained objects in the wound.
The wound should be inspected for any necrotic or nonvascularized tissue, heavily macerated tissue, or minimally adherent subcutaneous fat nodules. These can cause bacteria growth and infections. If any of these are found, they should be removed.
Best Doctor for Treatment of Traumatic Wounds in Lubbock, TX
Dr. Joseph Wolcott MD is the best Doctor for the treatment of traumatic wounds in Lubbock, Texas. He is a highly experienced wound care specialist. He is highly experienced and has been in practice as a wound care specialist for over 10 years.
Dr. Wolcott is the very best in wound management and treatment. He has a proven success record for wound treatments and many of his patients have testified to his prowess in wound treatment.
Dr. Wolcott is an easy-going and compassionate man. He dedicates his time to improving the lives of his patients by ensuring that individuals with traumatic wounds go back home completely healed. He has a dedicated team of health care professionals that all work together to accomplish the single goal of efficient wound treatment and healing.
Contact Dr. Wolcott if you are searching for a highly experienced and reputable traumatic wound care specialist in Lubbock, Texas. He is always available to answer your calls and pay attention to your concerns.
