Three wound types: common challenges with exudate, gaps and anatomical positioning

Abstract

Complex wounds require combinations of technologies and regimes to match laboratory tests and address challenges of physiological processes, body contours, movement and ease of use during life-long self-management. Wound management for vascular and lymphatic disorders incorporate wound dressings, skin care and compression to address local wound needs and underlying pathologies, while allowing functionality for movement. In a similar manner, acute inflammatory conditions that become chronic require skin care and local conformable and absorbent wound management, but with simple, atraumatic retention methods without compression. Three types of conditions will be discussed in this article—venous leg ulcers with chronic oedema (VLU), hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and pilonidal sinuses (PS). It focuses on overcoming challenges associated with excess exudate, compromised skin, dressing awkward areas and contours, while also demonstrating wound care similarities when administered by patients themselves.