With the exception of dermatology, most doctors are treating conditions that they cannot see with the naked eye. In order to overcome this hurdle, many different types of imaging techniques and instruments have been developed in order to allow the doctor direct visualization of the problem area. Let’s discuss the imaging most often used in [...]

Let’s finish our discussion on the different types of debridement. Mechanical debridement is another method to remove non-viable tissue. This is accomplished by applying wet to dry dressings. Normal gauze is soaked in some type of antibacterial solution and packed into the wound. Solutions may be simple saline, Dakin’s (a diluted version of bleach), or [...]

In light of our recent discussions on maggot therapy, I thought it would be wise to discuss different ways to debride diabetic wounds and their associated pros and cons. Wound care is continually being assessed for effectiveness and continues to evolve. This is a short review of some of the many options available. The most [...]

As more and more patients have difficult wounds to heal, we have looked to the past and brought back more primitive yet effective ways to clean and close wounds. One of these techniques is putting maggots into wounds. Maggots are simply baby or immature flies. There are many species of flies, some of which are [...]