Minor traumatic wound assessment

What is it about?

Patients with minor traumatic wounds are a common and universal presentation to emergency departments, and their assessment and management requires the use of cognitive and motor skills. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology, combined with decision-making skills, are essential for clinicians to undertake a thorough assessment, develop a care plan and provide effective wound management. This article discusses the importance of wound irrigation and debridement, as well as different methods available for wound closure. It is important that clinicians are competent in the motor skills required to perform these tasks to enable effective care delivery. Nurses should be aware of the latest research in the field and implement best practice in their clinical settings.

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Why is it important?

The incidence of traumatic wounds presenting to an emergency department (ED) is not insignificant. In the UK the epidemiology of injury is unknown however research in the USA reviewed 90 million lacerations in a ten year period. These injuries represent a cost to the healthcare sector in terms of staff and equipment resource while the implications for patients include pain, functional loss and associated financial strain.

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