Complex wound or complex patient? Strategies for treatment.
There is no simple definition of what constitutes a complex wound, but in practice the term tends to refer wounds with one or more complicating factors, e.g. exudate, infection, comorbidity, polypharmacy. Management of complex wounds is based on the same principles as non-complex wounds, i.e. holistic assessment and addressing the issues identified. This article presents three case studies in which these principles are applied.
Vowden
Kathryn
K
Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. kath.vowden@bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001458:Bandages; D015897:Comorbidity; D003646:Debridement; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000150:complications; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D009336:Necrosis; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D013396:Suction; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*