Chronic Wound Identification and Assessment

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Chronic wounds affect more than 6.5 million people and cost billions of dollars every year in the United States. Chronic wounds become stagnant through the normal phases of wound healing and often enter a vicious cycle including numerous comorbidities, mixed etiologies, and intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Wound identification and comprehensive assessment comprise the foundation of an effective treatment plan.

In this useful guide, health care professionals will gain an understanding of the categories of chronic wounds and will learn ways to prevent, assess, and manage these types of chronic wounds. The guide includes the following topics:

Essentials of chronic wound management

Strategies to simplify identifying wound types: arterial, venous, and diabetic neuropathic ulcers; surgical dehiscence; atypical wounds; and pressure ulcer/injury staging

Characteristics, causes, risk factors, and treatment plans for each wound type

Methods to reduce friction and shearing forces

Moisture-associated dermatitis/incontinence-associated dermatitis versus pressure injury

Moist wound healing rationale and techniques

Bioburden control

Steps in periwound assessment

Simplifying wound treatment by wound depth and exudate

Patient and caregiver education and communication

The guide discusses the following best practices for the use of topical agents, as well as clinical concerns, backed by recent references from the evidence base: