Sharp Wound Debridement: Techniques, Benefits & Risks

Typically, wounds heal well with conventional care. Some wounds require more medical intervention, including debridement, or the removal of dead tissue, in order to heal properly.

Sharp Debridement

• Sharp debridement is the preferred method for treating infected wounds. In sharp debridement, dead tissue is removed from a wound using sterile scissors or a scalpel. It can be a painful process and a patient could bleed afterward.

Contraindications

• Sharp debridement should not be used on a patient who has an uncontrolled bleeding disorder, according to the Visiting Nurse Association of America. Because of the risk of damage to healthy tissues, only a fully trained medical professional should perform the procedure.

Considerations

• If the wound in need of debridement is extensive, the procedure should be performed in an operating room. Smaller wounds can be debrided at a patient's bedside, according to "Fundamental Nursing Skills and Concepts."