Wound Type

A burn is a thermal injury to the skin caused by heat, chemical or physical agents. Usually defined in terms of burn depth such as 1st degree/ Superficial, 2nd degree/ Partial thickness or 3rd degree/ Full thickness. We have a range of dressings for managing partial thickness burns and a faecal management system for managing complications associated with burn injuries.

A diabetic foot ulcer is a common complication of diabetes melitus. An ulcer will develop if there is a break in the skin which does not progress to heal, due to the underlying diabetic condition. Diabetic foot ulcers require careful management and we have a range of products which can help to manage these ulcers.

A leg ulcer is a breakdown in tissue on the leg or foot. Leg ulcers are a consequence of poor blood flow through the legs, due to problems with the blood vessels themselves or due to underlying disease which compromises effective blood flow. We have a range of products to help manage these ulcers.

Stage I: Intact skin with non-blanchable redness of a localised area usually over a bony prominence. Darkly pigmented skin may not have visible blanching; its colour may differ from the surrounding area. Stage II: Partial thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red pink wound bed, without slough. May also present as an intact or open/ruptured serum-filled blister.

Stage III: Full thickness tissue loss. Subcutaneous fat may be visible but bone, tendon, or muscle are not exposed. Slough may be present but does not obscure the depth of tissue loss. May include undermining and tunnelling. Stage IV: Full thickness loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle. Slough or eschar may be present on some parts of the wound bed. Often include undermining and tunnelling.

Open surgical wounds are left to heal by secondary intention, which involves leaving wound to heal naturally, and relies on granulation tissue arising from the base of the wound to fill the tissue deficit created by surgery.

In closed wounds, the skin edges are re-approximated by stitches, staples, tissue adhesives or adhesive strips and left to heal by primary intention.

Traumatic wound occurring on the extremities of older adults as a result of friction alone or shearing and friction forces.