There are a wide variety of wounds that are taken care of at wound care centers in Australia,
including, traumatic, surgical, and chronic wounds. Surgical wounds are very
easy to clean and they easily heal up. The traumatic wounds are usually caused
due to traumatic, thermal or mechanical injuries, including burns, fractures,
punctures, abrasions, contusions and frostbite. Chronic wounds are very
difficult to take care of as they heal gradually and utmost care is required.
Diabetic ulcers and pressure sores are some of the examples of chronic wounds.
Wounds are sub-categorized into 2 groups, full and partial thickness.
The partial thickness wounds are actually present with the injuries to the
dermal tissues and epidermal, including scalds, flame burns and blisters. They
are quite painful and difficult to manage. The full thickness wounds are
present with the damage to subcutaneous tissues, dermal and epidermal, but
these types of wounds are less painful. Today, it has been recorded that over
3000 types of wound dressings are used at Wound Care Australia, thus making it easy for the wound care centers to take
proper care of wounds with right kind of dressings. The most popularly used
wound dressings are:
Hydrocolloids: Hydrocolloids dressing is super absorbent, waterproof, pliable and adhesive wound
dressing that provides the wound area with helpful barrier to microorganisms
and infections. This type of dressing basically develops a moist environment
around the wounds and facilitates autolysis and encourages the formation of
granulation tissues. This type of dressing has been in use for many years and
they are used for a variety of wounds to promote ultimate healing and to help
meet quality agenda target.
Hydrocolloids are available in a variety of sizes and precut shapes.
Some of the dressings even come with beveled edges so as to decrease the
propensity for the dressing to roll when positioned on high friction areas.
This type of dressing is basically known to offer thermal protection to the
wound area and they can resistant oxygen, water and infection or bacteria. The
wounds are the dressed by using hydrocolloids are less likely to get infected
compared to the wounds dressed with semi-resistant foams, sheet hydro-gels,
gauze.
Hydrocolloids are widely used by medical professionals today for
moderate acute to chronic wounds. If in case monitoring the wound area is
essential then ensure that the dressing used is translucent.
The absorbing capacity of the dressing greatly depends on the
composition and thickness of the dressing. The area that comes in direct contact
with the wound is non-adhesive and can be removes easily. This type of dressing
is basically used for first or second degree burns, pressure ulcers, skin
tears, abrasions and also for other modest to heavy draining wounds.
