What To Expect During Your Wound Debridement

Your body has a remarkable “built-in” ability to heal itself after injuries, and that includes healing wounds and sores in your skin. But sometimes, conditions like diabetes or immune system problems interfere with these healing processes, leaving you with wounds that are far more prone to dangerous infections.

In fact, as many as 5.7 million Americans have chronic, hard-to-heal wounds requiring special medical treatment to promote healing and prevent serious complications. That treatment often  includes a process called wound debridement that focuses on removing dead or diseased tissue.

As a leading wound care specialist in Arlington and Dallas, Texas, Michael V. Tran, DPM, offers advanced wound care treatments for patients at AllCare Foot & Ankle Center, including debridement and other therapies designed to support natural healing. In this post, learn why wound debridement is important and what to expect during and after your treatment.

How wound debridement works

Wound debridement uses special techniques to create an optimal environment for wound healing. Debridement focuses on removing damaged or dead (necrotic) tissue to support natural healing responses.

Wound debridement is used in many types of wounds when dead tissue is present. These techniques are often used to treat foot ulcers in people with diabetes, a chronic disease that can interfere significantly with normal healing. As part of an overall wound care regimen, debridement can help reduce the risk of severe infections that can lead to amputation.

Dr. Tran uses a variety of techniques during debridement, depending on your specific needs. In general, these techniques help:

• Eliminate dead or diseased tissue
• Get rid of excess bacteria and bacterial byproducts
• Make it easier for medicines to penetrate tissue
• Improve the response to antibiotics
• Reduce the risk of sepsis and other infections
• Set the stage for new, healthy tissue formation

Debridement also enables Dr. Tran to perform a more thorough assessment of your wound and its extent and effects.

During and after debridement: what to expect

Before recommending wound debridement, Dr. Tran assesses your wound through a visual examination and, often, lab tests and diagnostic imaging. Typically, wound debridement only takes place after antibiotics and other topical techniques have proved to be ineffective.

Prior to debridement, Dr. Tran numbs the area using a local anesthetic. For very large wounds, sedation or general anesthesia can be used. Once the area is prepared, Dr. Tran uses a variety of instruments to remove dead tissue and cleanse the wound and the surrounding area.

After debridement is complete, he covers the wound with a special dressing. For patients with poor circulation, he often applies a compression bandage or garment to reduce inflammation and support circulation in the area.

Following your treatment, we provide complete wound care instructions, along with prescription antibiotics. You’ll need to avoid strenuous activity in the initial stages of recovery to avoid stressing the area. It’s important to follow your post-procedure instructions carefully, including attending all follow-up visits, to ensure optimal healing and recovery.

Don’t ignore a slow-healing wound

Slow-to-heal wounds are especially common among people with diabetes, but they can happen in other people, too. The key to avoiding serious and even life-threatening complications is to seek medical treatment right away.

To learn more about wound debridement and other techniques we use to care for stubborn wounds and ulcers, call or book an appointment online with Dr. Tran and the team at AllCare Foot & Ankle Center today.