When a doctor removes dead or unhealthy tissue from a wound, it's called debridement (say "dih-BREED-munt"). Doctors do this to help a wound heal.
It's a good idea to remove dead tissue for a few reasons. First, dead tissue gives bacteria a place to grow. This can cause infection. Second, dead tissue can slow the growth of healthy tissue.
To do this procedure, the doctor may use a saline solution to clean the wound. Then the doctor may use:
If your child's wound is large, your child may need a skin graft. This helps new tissue grow.
Procedures can be stressful for both your child and you. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for your child's procedure.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for any changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
Your doctor removed dead or unhealthy tissue (debridement) from your child's wound. How it was done depends on how severe the wound was.
Your child may have some pain and swelling around the wound. This should get better within a few days. Your child may have a bandage or a moist dressing over the wound. The doctor will let you know how long to keep it on and how often to change it.
How long it will take for your child's wound to heal depends on how serious the wound is and whether your child has any other health problems that may slow healing. Your child may need to have the wound debrided again.
To debride the wound, your doctor may first use a saline solution to clean the wound. Then your doctor may do one of these things. The doctor may use:
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