If you have a wound that's not getting better, you may benefit from sharp debridement. Sharp debridement is a medical procedure that removes dead tissue and foreign material from a wound to promote healing.

At MedCentris, we provide a range of wound medicine treatments, including sharp debridement, to help our patients improve. You can trust our dedicated team of specialists to use advanced protocols to diagnose, treat, and heal your wounds as quickly as possible. 

Understanding Sharp Debridement: Is It Right for You? 

Debridement is a general term that describes the removal of unhealthy material from wounds. This includes dead, damaged, and infected tissue plus debris and biofilm (clusters of microorganisms). 

While not all wounds require sharp debridement, it may help old wounds that won't heal or chronic wounds that are worsening. It may also be the first choice in wound cleaning methods for large, deep, or painful wounds.

There are many forms of debridement, including biological, enzymatic, and mechanical. By contrast, sharp debridement uses surgical instruments or other sharp tools to cut off unhealthy tissue. It is the fastest way to remove necrotic matter and foreign material from a wound.

Two Types of Sharp Debridement

There are two types of sharp debridement for wounds:

• Conservative sharp debridement: This wound debridement procedure uses scissors, scalpels, or curettes for necrotic tissue removal. Surrounding healthy tissue is unaffected and there is typically minimal bleeding.
• Surgical sharp debridement: Conducted by a surgeon or other qualified clinician, surgical debridement techniques require the use of surgical instruments and anesthesia. This type of excisional debridement may extend into healthy tissues around the wound.

The MedCentris team will consider your age, health, wound, and complication risks to decide the best debridement type for you.

Benefits of Sharp Debridement in Wound Care

Sharp debridement for ulcers and other wounds offers the following benefits:

• Dead tissue removal to eliminate the source of sepsis
• Unhealthy tissue removal to reduce nutrients for bacteria
• Infection removal to lower the bacterial load and likelihood of antibiotic resistance
• Stimulation of healthy tissue to promote healing
• Wound bed preparation for additional treatments (such as skin grafts)

In short, professional wound debridement cleans out unhealthy matter and sets the stage for proper wound healing.

The Sharp Debridement Procedure

To prepare you for your wound debridement procedure, our specialists will consider the nature of your wound and your underlying health conditions. Preparation may include a physical exam, wound measurement, and local or general anesthesia.

Sharp debridement is typically a quick procedure. A qualified MedCentris clinician will cut the unhealthy tissue off and clean the wound. Our specialized training and extensive knowledge help us make the process as safe and painless as possible for our patients.

Wound Debridement Aftercare

Your MedCentris team will tell you how to care for your wound after sharp debridement. Debridement wound care best practices typically include the following:

• Changing the dressing regularly
• Keeping the dressing dry
• Keeping the wound clean
• Avoiding pressure on the wound
• Avoiding swimming, hot tubs, and baths that may soak the wound

Recovery From Sharp Debridement

Your recovery timeline depends on your wound's severity, size, and location. It may also depend on whether you received conservative sharp debridement or surgical wound cleaning.  

Your MedCentris provider will tell you what to expect during the recovery process. Besides proper wound care, the following can help ensure a smooth recovery:

• Eating a balanced diet: A nutritious diet with healthy protein sources can promote wound healing. 
• Getting adequate rest: Rest can also help your body heal.
• Avoiding smoking: Smoking slows down healing by drying out the skin, reducing blood flow, and interfering with the transport of nutrients and oxygen to the wound.
• Following medical advice: Take any prescribed medications and attend follow-up appointments.