What is it about?
Following surgery most surgical wounds heal naturally with no complications. However, complications such as infection and wound dehiscence (opening) can occur which may result in delayed healing or wound breakdown. Infected surgical wounds may contain dead (devitalised) tissue. Removal of this dead tissue (debridement) from surgical wounds is believed to enable wound healing. Many methods are available to clinicians to debride surgical wounds. This review showed that there is insufficient valid research evidence to recommend any one particular method. There is a clear need for more research into which method is most effective, in removing dead tissue from surgical wounds that have become infected.
Why is it important?
Wounds that require debridement are often slow to heal, can be painful, and the costs to the health provider as well as the person with the wound, can be high. Clinicians have a wide variety of methods to choose from, and the evidence on these methods in terms of their effectiveness is essential for clinicians to apply within their clinical practice. People who have wounds that require debridement also want this kind of information in order that they can talk this over with their clinician, and be involved in decision making about their care.