In this episode of The PODdoctors podcast, Dr. Damien Dauphinee, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon, and Dr. Raafae Hussain, a fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon, discuss the proper technique for applying wound dressings and the different types of wounds commonly seen in podiatric medicine. They emphasize the importance of maintaining a balanced, moist wound environment and provide tips for choosing the appropriate dressing based on the level of moisture or drainage. The doctors demonstrate a simple dressing change using Hydrofera Blue and Coban wrap, highlighting the importance of sterile technique and proper dressing application. They also debunk the myth that wounds need to be aired out and explain the benefits of modern wound dressings.

Quotes

• " There's a lot of different types of wounds out there, but the dressings themselves are fairly similar. So there's primary intention healing wounds or secondary intention healing wounds, and there's tertiary intention healing wounds. Primary are your surgical incisions. The dressings on those are very simple. Secondary intention healings are like your sores and ulcers or big gouges. And tertiary intentions are more of like a delayed primary healing type of surgical incisions.” -Dr. Raafae Hussain

• “It still seems to be deeply embedded in the brainstem of human beings that you need to let wounds air out. They don't need to be aired out. The dressing needs to be applied. And you need to change that dressing in a reasonable schedule to prevent maceration, which is the white stuff, and to prevent things from drying out. So if there's got to be a happy medium there somewhere where you're changing the dressing frequently enough that you're avoiding some of those complications we got way better wound dressings and capabilities in 2023.” -Dr. Damien Dauphinee

Top Takeaways:

• Proper wound dressing technique involves moistening dry wounds and drying excessively moist or draining wounds.
• Hydrofera blue is a versatile dressing that absorbs drainage, provides antimicrobial properties and helps maintain a balanced wound environment.
• Coban wrap is an elastic dressing that can be easily molded and provides secure coverage for the wound.
• It is important to maintain sterile technique during dressing changes and to avoid using household scissors or unclean instruments.
• Modern wound dressings have advanced significantly, and the belief that wounds need to be aired out is outdated.

What You Will Learn:

• How to do a wound dressing change 
• Explanation of different types of wounds and dressings 
• Debunking the myth of letting wounds air out 
• Qualifications for being considered homebound for Medicare patients

Resources:

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