Wound Management
Wound management includes procedures used to achieve a clean wound bed, promote a moist wound environment, facilitate autolytic debridement, absorb excessive exudate from a wound complex, and enhance perfusion and oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues in addition to management of the resulting scar. As a component of wound management, debridement is a therapeutic modalities, or enzymes.
The desired effects of wound management may be achieved in a variety of ways. The physical therapist may use physical agents, electrotherapeutic and mechanical modalities, dressings, topical agents, debridement, and oxygen therapy as part of a plan of care to alter the function of tissues and organ systems required for repair. Wound management interventions are used directly by the physical therapist, based on patient/client needs and the direct physiological effects that are required.
Dan and Scott have specialized training in the use of the Erchonia laser as it pertains to treatment of wounds. The Erchonia laser has been shown to greatly enhance tissue healing time. The clinic is the first to use Erchonia laser for wound care in the State of Nebraska.
Methods of wound management may include:
• Assistive and adaptive devices
• Debridement- nonselective
- enzymatic debridement
wet dressings
- wet-to-dry dressings
- wet-to-moist dressings
• Debridement- selective
- enzymatic debridement
- sharp debridement
- debridement with other agents (eg, autolysis)
• Dressings (eg, wound coverings, hydrogels, vacuum-assisted closure)
• Electrotherapeutic modalities
• Orthotic, protective, and supportive devices
• Oxygen therapy (eg, topical, supplemental)
• Physical agents and mechanical modalities
• Topical agents (eg, ointments, moisturizers, creams, cleansers, sealants)
The information listed above is from The American Physical Therapy Association's website. For futher information go to: