Quiz Cases Case competition Dictionary About
Wound Management

Surgical debridement Case 1 Debridement of chronic wound

Authors:  Christian Kaare Paaskesen Stud. Med., and Hasan Gökcer Tekin MD.

Patient history

A 64-year-old female presented a chronic distal leg ulcer with pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. The wound etiology was unknown but venous insufficiency was suspected. The wound bed was covered with green debris and slough. Although, the patient received treatment with conservative wound dressing for months the wound did not show signs of healing. Surgical debridement with a split thickness skin grafts was planned to promote wound healing and break the slough/debris cycle.

Before and after

Procedure

1

Step 1: Preoperative wound bed – Medial view of lower leg

The wound bed is seen with a thick layer of fibrin and green debris. Underlying tendons are exposed on the anterior parts of crus.

2

Step 2: Lateral view of lower leg

The tendon from the peroneus longus muscle is visible

3

Step 3: Anterior view of lower leg

The wound bed stretches circumferential and covers almost half of the lower leg

4

Step 4: Posterior view of lower leg

Circumferential chronic wound

5

Step 5: Wound is cleaned before surgery

The wound is firmly cleaned before surgery – non-adherent slough is removed.

6

Step 6: Preoperative timeout

The surgical team is ready prior to surgery. Split skin graft from donor site on right femur

Video

7

Step 7: Transplant meshing

The split skin graft is placed on a plastic square, ready for meshing.

Video

Video

Video

8

Step 8: After debridement

After debridement, the wound bed is trimmed and prepared as a recipient site for the split skin grafts.

9

Step 9: Trimming

Avital tendons are trimmed to remove necrotic tissue and bacterial colonization

10

Step 10: Hemostasis

Hemostasis is secured.

Video

11

Step 11: Skin grafts are placed

The first of three split-thickness skin grafts are placed.

12

Step 12: Graft adjustment

The graft is adjusted to the wound edges.

13

Step 13: Second graft is placed

The second graft is placed.

Video

Grafts are secured with staples
14

Step 14: Nitrofurazone gauze

Nitrofurazone gauze before it is applied to the wound.

15

Step 15: Nitrofurazone gauze applied

Nitrofurazone gauze applied to the wound.

16

Step 16: Secondary foam layer is applied

A foam is used as a secondary layer.

Video

17

Step 17: End result

The wound is now fully protected with primary and secondary dressings.

18

Step 18: Split-thickness skin graft donor site

Split-thickness skin graft donor site.

19

Step 19: Donor site wound dressings

Donor site wound dressings: Primary dressing is a foam dressing with adhesive silicone borders. The wound was covered with epinephrine-soaked gauze to reduce bleeding before wound dressing was applied.

20

Step 20: Donor site wound dressing

Donor site wound dressing

21

Step 21: Postoperative result

Immediate postoperative result.

Follow-up after 5 days

1

Step 1: Anterior view

Anterior view: After removal of the bolus dressing the split skin graft is fragile and not fully adherent. It will be let open to air dry for one hour per day. Notice lack of “take” over tendons due to lack of vascularization.

2

Step 2: Lateral view

Lateral view: Lack of “take” due to folding and overlap of the split skin grafts

3

Step 3: Medial view

Medial view: Good take of the split skin graft mainly due to a clean wound bed with healthy granulation tissue.

4

Step 4: Posterior view

Posterior view: Lack of “take” where the split skin grafts overlap.


Want to contribute?

Add your case now


Contents
Watch video

Handbook

Handbook