Before treatment takes place, it is essential to make a full assessment of:

1. The whole patient
2. The wound and its underlying aetiology
3. The environment and social conditions

Goals of wound therapy

Using evidence-based treatment to ensure:

• pain free dressing changes and promotion of patient comfort between dressing changes
• reduction of infection risk by using principles of asepsis
• promotion of wound healing
• treatment of any identified clinical infection
• improvement in systemic conditions
• protection against trauma
• maintenance of clean wound bed
• maintenance of wound temperature
• the enhancing of the physiological environment
• removal of loosening necrotic and slough tissues with an active debridement methodology
• protection against infection
• minimising of pain
• production of good cosmetic results
• maximum cost effectiveness
• that the treatment / care plan is acceptable to patient and/or carer

Registered practitioners need to understand the numerous cellular processes which take place in the wound repair process to enable them to make informed decisions regarding dressing selection.

Correct usage of modern dressings will facilitate the wound healing process rather than just cover a wound.

Correct use of debridement and surrounding skin care plus correction of underlying pathology along with the correct usage of modern dressings will result in improved patient comfort, correct wear time, effective use of nurse time and a reduction in cost.

Managing complex wounds may require specialised nurse input.