Patient Assessment

Patient assessment is critical to ensure good wound healing outcomes. A ‘unified patient centred approach’ should be adopted which takes into account the systemic, regional and local factors which may affect wound healing¹. It is important to assess the patient and the wound to aid appropriate dressing selection and then accurate treatment interventions can be planned. A multi-disciplinary approach should always be considered¹.

Assessment pathway

At assessment the wound should be measured and the depth of tissue loss expressed as a grade. If the wound is a cavity, then all areas of undermining should be probed, measured and documented. Ideally all wounds should be mapped and photographed. A treatment plan should be selected providing clear rationale for the dressings selected and frequency of dressing changes²

Other sections available:-

• What is a Wound?
• Structure and Function of the Skin
• Phases of Wound Healing
• Theory of Moist Wound Healing
• Wound Classification

Caveat: The information given is a guide only and should not replace clinical judgement.