Debridement is the medical removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue to improve the healing potential of the remaining healthy tissue.
Dead tissue and slough in a wound can:
- Delay a wound’s normal healing process;
- Mimic or hide infection;
- Attract bacteria to the wound, increasing the risk of infection;
- Increase odour and exudate;
Debridement facilitates several processes that are essential for wound healing. This “biological burden” is removed to control bacterial colonization, prevent wound infection. The wound healing can proceed much more rapidly, leading to better outcomes.
The indication for debridement is the removal of devitalized tissue such as necrotic tissue, slough, bioburden, biofilm, and apoptotic cells.
Necrotic tissue prevents angiogenesis, granulation tissue formation, epidermal resurfacing, and normal extracellular matrix (ECM) formation.
Debridement is essential to promote healing and prevent infection.
In recent years, new types of debridement technology have been introduced, such as fluid jet technology, ultrasound debridement therapy, hydrosurgery, and monofilament polyester fiber pad debridement.
Combining debridement methods has been found to be an advantage in managing complex wounds and different pathological tissues.
Debridement continues to be a standard of care, utilizing surgical or non-surgical methods.