What is debrid?
Debrid is the term that describes any type of wound treatment that removes damaged tissue for the ultimate benefit of the wound bed. The term debridement was introduced in 1997. Debridement was initially used for the removal of chalazae (lung fibrosis) in lung transplant patients and until recently it was thought to only be applicable to these types of wounds.
Debridement is commonly defined as any wound closure procedure that removes an area of the wound for the greater healing of the wound bed. However, there are numerous types of debridments and different debridment processes are used for different wounds and indications.
Debridment is considered a minor surgical procedure; however, when used for cosmetic purposes or when the wound is overlooked and not cleaned or attended for a prolonged period, it can increase the risk of infection. Debridment also commonly involves percutaneous collagen (PC) grafting, which involves cutting the tissue to make a small pocket to insert a new layer of skin over the scar. This procedure is minimally invasive and often less painful than a full surgical scar, however, PC grafting is not covered by all insurance policies and is sometimes expensive to carry out.
How is Debridement Used?
Debridement is typically used in wounds that will not heal or are currently non-healing. It can be used in a wide range of wounds that are treated non-remodeled or non-debrided. Examples of non-remodeled wounds include:
Scarring and scar formation;
Debridement is a form of wound closure. The term debridement was originally used to refer to removal of excised tissue from wounds that were not debrided properly. At that time, these wounds were termed non-healing, debridement was an easier process of healing and it was found that many of these wounds would heal better if debridement was performed. The term debridement then took on other meanings, particularly non-regenerative wounds that may not heal as expected.
Debridement is now also used for the application of debridement-like treatments for cosmetic purposes and non-healing wounds.
These treatments allow the removal of wounds that are not healing to ultimately create a healthier and well-proportioned wound. The principle of non-regeneration and non-regenerative wounds is what makes debridement applicable to many types of wounds and injuries that may not be healed.
Many different debridement methods exist for non-regenerative wounds and these methods are often applied by different healthcare professionals. They generally include the following methods:
Debridement with Regeneration Derms;
Allowing time for the wound to heal naturally can result in a scar that is noticeable. To reduce the appearance of scars and to ensure a better and healthier healing process, the wound should be treated with regenerative or non-regenerative debridement treatments.
At times, a debridement can be a complicated procedure. These types of treatments require the assistance of highly skilled healthcare professionals. They usually involve making cuts in the wound, flushing out and sterilizing the wound bed and applying wound dressings and scar sheets that can help keep the wound clean and healthy.
Two different methods for non-regenerative debridement for superficial wounds are known as regenerative debridement and non-regenerative debridement.
Regenerative debridement refers to the removal of damaged tissue, which is used to create a pocket to retain new tissue. While non-regenerative debridement involves making a small cut to remove excess tissue. The name for non-regenerative debridement is often used to describe any wound which is not debrided.
Both of these treatments leave small scars. Debridement alone is often enough to reduce the appearance of scars and non-regenerative debridement is often sufficient to remove a scar.
Therefore, there are many different types of debridement treatment and non-regenerative debridement is not always a bad choice for some patients.
Healthcare professionals now use a broad range of debridement treatments for various different types of wounds. The most effective treatment for superficial wounds and non-healing scars is known as non-regenerative debridement. Non-regenerative debridement uses a similar debridement method as regeneration. However, the wounds are left un-wound and non-healed for a period of time. This leaves a non-healing scar to protect the wound from infection. The purpose of this method is to prevent new scarring and decrease the appearance of a scar. This is an effective treatment in non-healing wounds or scars that may not heal over time.
Other non-regenerative debridement methods include:
Debridement with Debrid
Using debrid (such as re-used bandages) to form a scar can result in scarring that is not as visible.
