Wound Healing Unit
Advanced technologies
for everyday wounds
Faster healing.
Reduced pain.
Prevent scarring.
What is the Skin ?
The skin covers our entire body and has several vital
functions; it is divided into three layers, the epidermis,
the dermis and the hypodermis.
The epidermis is the outermost layer
and has no blood vessels.
The dermis is the thickest skin layer
and contains collagen and elastin.
The hypodermis forms a subcutaneous
layer below the dermis and contains
blood vessels.
What are the Functions
of the Skin ?
The main functions of the skin are :
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Protection against chemical and mechanical aggressions,
bacterial and viral pathogens, and ultraviolet radiation.
Sensation; the skin contains nerve receptors for pain, touch,
temperature and pressure.
Communication; the skin also functions as an organ
of communication and identification, for example facial skin
along with underlying muscles is capable of expressions such
as smiling or flushing.
Thermoregulation; the skin acts as a barrier between
the outside and inside environment to help maintain body
temperature; the two primary thermoregulatory mechanisms
are circulation and sweating.
What is Wound Healing ?
“Healing…is not a science but the intuitive art of wooing nature.”
W.H. Auden, The Art of Healing.
A wound results from any type of injury that breaks the integrity
of the skin, such as cuts, lacerations, abrasions, scratches etc…
Wound healing is a natural restorative response to tissue injury,
resulting from the interaction of a complex cascade of cellular
events that generates resurfacing, reconstitution, and restoration
of skin integrity.
How Can You Manage
Wounds ?
When you consider the manner in which the skin is broken, there
are several kinds of wounds like cuts, lacerations, abrasions etc…
Wounds can be large or small, open or closed.
The treatment depends on the type, cause, and depth
of the wound as well as whether other structures beyond the
skin are involved. Generally, treatment of everyday domestic
wounds involves cleaning and closing of the wound.
Cleaning can be accomplished using a number of different
solutions including tap water or a decontamination
and moistening agent such as Prontosan® Gel.
If you notice signs of infection on the wound site such as pain,
redness, swelling or heat, you should seek medical advice.
Once the wound is cleaned it should be covered with an
appropriate dressing; the choice of a dressing depends on the
type of wound, localisation of the wound and its characteristics.
This guide is intended to help you make the right choice.
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Dry vs Moist Healing
The Evidence on Moist Wound Healing
Moist wound therapy has been accepted as a major advance
in the treatment of complex wounds since the 1960’s. In contrast
to drying-out wounds, moist wound conditions allow optimal cell
migration, proliferation, differentiation and neovascularization.
(Strength of evidence = A*)
Healthy
skin
Wound
resulting from
injuries
Classic, dry healing
Moist Wound Therapy
scab formation dry healing
optimization of cell
migration, proliferation, differentiation
and neovascularization
Crust
Dry dermis
Subcutaneous cells
Occlusive or semiocclusive
Moist exudate
Dermis
*G
uidelines for the Outpatient Treatment of Chronic Wounds and Burns,
M. Benbow et al, Blackwell Science, 2000
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Benefits of Moist Wound
Healing
Promotes faster healing
n moist environment conducive to natural healing conditions
Helps reduce pain
prevents newly formed tissue adherence to the dressing
n atraumatic and pain free dressing removal
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Prevents scarring
avoids scab formation
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For Everyday Wounds
The Wound Healing Unit from B.Braun has been specifically
designed to help you care for basic wounds; these can happen
anytime, anywhere, each time your skin gets hurt !
With B.Braun dressings, you can take care of minor injuries
by yourself, reduce pain, ensure faster healing
and make life less complicated.
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Cuts and Lacerations
Kids love to play ! What a challenge
to be curious and active and not get hurt
from time to time. When that happens,
we do not want it to get worse.
What are cuts and lacerations ?
A cut refers to a wound where the skin is just separated,
without any dirt or foreign object remaining in the wound,
typically caused by a sharp object such as a knife or piece
of broken glass and where none of the skin is missing.
The term laceration implies a torn or jagged wound;
lacerations tend to be caused by blunt trauma.
How to treat cuts and lacerations ?
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ost bleeding can be stopped with direct pressure
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and time. Cleaning with a gentle soap and water
or with Prontosan® Gel will help reduce the chance
of bacterial infection.
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pply the adhesive suture strips and cover
with a polyurethane film dressing to avoid
bacterial contamination.
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ns,
Why Suture Strips
and Cover Film ?
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For efficient wound closure
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Good adaptation to skin movement
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Visual control of the wound
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More softness and grip
Adhesive suture strips
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Sterile, suture strips 6mm x 75mm
H
elp healing by closing
wound edges
A
dapts to movements
due to elastic material
Transparent polyurethane films
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Sterile, polyurethane film dressings 6 x 7cm
Protects the breached skin area from external
contamination
Hypoallergenic
Each wallet contains
3 suture strips 6 mm x 7,5 cm
3 polyurethane films 6 x 7 cm
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Blisters
We all know that wearing new shoes
for too long ends up in blister formation.
Blisters can be more than just a painful
irritation; if left untreated, they may
become infected which in turn may lead
to worse medical conditions.
What are blisters ?
Blisters are fluid filled skin lesions resulting from
a prolonged friction, particularly on the palms
of the hands or the heel of the foot, although they can
form in any location where the body comes into contact
with a lot of friction; hiking shoes or use of rough surfaces
are typical examples. The friction induces heat which,
associated locally with perspiration, generate the blister
or even some burns.
How to prevent and treat blisters ?
Prevention
The best way to treat blisters is to prevent them from
happening in the first place; if you notice that your shoes
are sliding up and down, place a dressing on the back of
your heel to provide extra padding and protection against
friction.
Treatment
Keep the blister clean to prevent infection. Use a soft
washcloth with water or Prontosan® Gel to gently wash
the blister and surrounding area. Protect the blister
by covering with a hydrocolloid island dressing.
If the condition of your blister does not improve, it may
become necessary to pop the blister. Soak a needle or
straight pin in rubbing alcohol for an hour to sterilize it.
After cleaning the area around the blister, use the needle
to carefully poke a horizontal hole into the base of the
blister. Gently press with your finger to work out any
liquid inside, then clean the area once more and cover
with dressing.
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ion.
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ead
Why Hydrocolloid Island
Dressings ?
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Anatomical shape
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Absorb excess fluid
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Bacteria and waterproof barrier
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Maintain a moist environment for natural healing
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Help reduce pain
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Prevent further blister formation on fragile skin areas
Hydrocolloid Island dressings
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H
ydrocolloid island dressings, oval, rectangular
and triangular shapes
Prevent and treat blisters
Comfortable and flexible
Extra fixation due to adhesive border
Each wallet contains
7 hydrocolloid dressings
Assorted shapes and sizes
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Abrasions
It is so nice to discover nature !
But unexpected obstacles may result
in a fall, hopefully not too serious.
Mild scraping can then be easily handled
by oneself.
What are abrasions ?
Abrasions are very common injuries that are usually caused
by a fall onto a hard surface, during which friction causes
layers of the skin to rub off. Cyclists often refer
to abrasions from crashes as “road rash”. While a bike crash
has the potential to cause a painful and severe abrasion,
most abrasions are shallow scrapes that do not extend into
the dermis (deep inner layer of the skin) and don’t cause
a great deal of bleeding. While there is often little or no
blood loss from an abrasion, there can be a great deal of
pain because of the many nerve endings that are exposed.
How to treat abrasions ?
The basic treatment of abrasions and road rash consists
of cleaning the wound with mild soap and water
or Prontosan® Gel, and then covering the area
with a transparent dressing with absorbent pad.
While a severe abrasion should be seen by a physician,
you can do some things to promote healing. First, because
abrasions can easily become infected, you should clean the
area thoroughly and remove any dirt and debris; the area
must be completely clean. If necessary, use a clean gauze
to gently scrub the area; do not scrub vigorously, as this
can cause more tissue damage.
Your tetanus status is important to avoid infection. If you
are uncertain when you had your last tetanus shot or if
your last booster was more than 10 years ago, you should
consult a physician.
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Why Transparent Dressings
with Absorbent Pads ?
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Bacteria and waterproof barrier
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Absorbs excess fluid
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Non adherent to the wound
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Hypoallergenic
dled
Transparent dressings with absorbent pad
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Sterile dressings with absorbent pad 5 x 7,5 cm
Protects the wound against infection
Stays in place during showering
Each wallet contains
3 transparent dressings
with absorbent pad 5 x 7,5 cm
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Superficial Burns
What a lovely feeling for an outdoor party
between friends. But sometimes minor
incidents happen and our skin gets hurt.
Probably all of us have suffered burns
at some point of time in our lives.
What are superficial and minor partial-thickness burns ?
A burn is an injury to the skin tissue, usually caused
by contact with intense heat, electricity or chemicals.
The severity of your burn depends on how deeply it has
affected the skin tissue, it can be a superficial,
partial-thickness or full-thickness burn.
How to treat superficial and minor partial-thickness
burns ?
Treatment of burns depends on their severity.
You can treat superficial and minor partial-thickness burns
caused by heat at home; however, you should seek medical
help for all other cases : deep partial and full thickness
burns, chemical and electrical burns, burns covering
an area larger than the palm of your hand, etc…
For full-thickness burns or burns caused by chemicals
or electricity, call for emergency help.
Treatment of superficial and minor partial-thickness
wounds
Begin by flooding your burn with cool (not cold)
water for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pain is relieved.
Always ask your pharmacist for advice before applying
ointments or creams.
Don’t burst any blisters that form on your burn.
Cover with transparent hydrocolloid dressing to enhance
a moist environment conducive to natural healing.
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party
or
urt.
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Why Transparent Hydrocolloid
Dressings ?
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Bacteria and waterproof barrier
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Conformable to skin contours
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Visual control of the wound
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Absorb residual exudates
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Stay in place during showering
Transparent hydrocolloid dressings
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Sterile hydrocolloid dressings 5 x 7 cm
Promotes wound healing
Provides instant relief and comfort
Each wallet contains
2 transparent hydrocolloid
dressings 5 x 7 cm
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Finger Injuries
We love our hands ! They are precious and
we want to keep them that way. But they
are very exposed to minor injuries whether
at home or during outdoor activities.
Let’s make sure we treat them well.
What are finger injuries ?
Finger injuries are common and range from minor cuts
and scrapes to wounds with major damage to bone,
tendons and ligaments. If not treated properly,
serious finger injuries can lead to permanent deformity
and loss of function.
The main types of common finger injuries include :
laceration, avulsion (part of the skin is torn off),
amputation, fingernail injuries, fractures, ligament,
tendon and nerve injuries.
How to treat finger injuries ?
Control bleeding by direct, continuous pressure for at least
several minutes; elevate the hand above the level of the
heart to help slow the bleeding.
Remove dirt or foreign objects; do not remove objects
that are deeply or firmly embedded. Run your hand under
plain tap water for several minutes, scrubbing gently with
a washcloth if needed to remove dirt. Always ask your
pharmacist for advice before applying ointments or creams.
If the finger is obviously deformed, painful, swollen, broken,
severely cut, seek immediate medical attention.
For minor, superficial finger injuries (cuts and scrapes),
cover with soft silicone wound dressing and fix with textile
finger bob dressing.
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s and
they
ether
Why Silicone Wound Dressings
and Finger Bob ?
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Gentle pain-free adhesion
Protect newly formed tissue
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Soft and conformable
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Safe and easy dressing fixation
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Atraumatic removal
Soft silicone wound dressings
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Sterile soft silicone
wound dressings 5 x 7,5 cm
Protects the breached skin
Flexible to keep freedom
of movement
Non adherent finger dressings
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on adherent device, knit for the safe fixation
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and protection of primary dressings
Easy and quick application
Adjusts to fit all finger sizes
Each wallet contains
3 soft silicone wound contact
layers 5 x 7,5 cm
6 finger bob dressings
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ZJ01256
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B. Braun Hospicare Ltd | Collooney | Co. Sligo | Ireland