Wound Packing Strips – uses and applications
Medical packing strips are an important part of wound care. This article explores the uses and applications of packing strips for wound care, the types of wound packing materials available and cautions to consider when engaging in this type of procedure.
What Are Medical Packing Strips?
Packing strips for wound care are long, slender, continuous pieces of a fine-mesh, gauzy material intended to fill wounds that extend into the dermal layer, also known as cavity wounds.
Why Use Wound Packing Strips?
Cavity wounds and wounds with a sinus, tunnel or undermining with an unknown endpoint require medical packing. There are several purposes behind packing a wound. The primary goal is to loosely fill empty space, but packing is also crucial in assisting the healing process. Properly applied medical packing strips can prevent premature wound closure and the formation of abscesses by promoting granulation tissue growth in the wound bed.
When Are Medical Strips Contraindicated?
- Do not use wound packing materials for fistula management, which should be referred to the attending physician or nurse practitioner.
- Do not use packing strips for wound care if the undermining, sinus tracts or tunnels of a wound are deeper or more extensive than the reach of a 15-centimeter (6-inch) cotton-tipped applicator or probe. If the tunnel or undermining extends beyond this depth or you are unable to determine the depth of the cavity wound, medical packing is not recommended.
Types of Wound Packing Strips
As a versatile part of traditional wound care, packing strips are available in many forms. A secondary dressing or wound cover should always be part of the medical packing procedure.
- Plain Packing Strips – Sterile packing strips without impregnation are generally made from fine-mesh, cotton gauze and are compatible with wet-to-dry wound packing. Plain packing strips are available in various pre-cut sizes.
- Lodoform Packing Strips – Iodoform is an antimicrobial compound that is effective against common infectives like pseudomonas and E. coli. Iodoform-impregnated wound packing strips can support debridement and overall healing.
- More Medical Packing Strip Options – In addition to iodoform and plain packing strips, wound packing gauze is available infused with other antiseptic compounds, like polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), silver and alginate to help manage exudate and maintain a moist environment.
Cautions for Using Any Wound Packing Material
Best medical packing practices call for extreme caution when removing or changing a dressing. Leaving a piece of wound packing material behind can cause infection and seriously impede the healing process. Therefore, use only one continuous packing strip to fill the space whenever possible. If multiple wound packing strips are necessary to fill a cavity of more than 1 centimeter deep, carefully count and document the strips as they are inserted, then verify the number of strips as they are removed.
Resources:
https://www.clwk.ca/buddydrive/file/procedure-wound-packing/
https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB13813
https://www.woundsinternational.com/uploads/resources/content_11730.pdf
English for HR says
Your post is fantastic, and I appreciate it. The data you supplied was both practical and simple to grasp. Your ability to simplify otherwise difficult ideas is much appreciated. Anyone interested in learning more about this subject would benefit greatly from reading this.
Best pork carnitas recipe at home says
Great piece! Anyone with even a passing interest in the subject should read your in-depth analysis and explanations. Your inclusion of examples and practical ideas is really appreciated. We appreciate you being so kind with your time and expertise.
exploreuaeonline says
I do agree with all the ideas you have introduced on your post They are very convincing and will definitely work Still the posts are very short for newbies May just you please prolong them a little from subsequent time Thank you for the post
Storytelling through Reels says
As someone who’s new to this topic, your blog post was incredibly informative. Thank you for breaking it down in such an easy-to-understand way.
Köy evlerine kalorifer says
Bu soba, içindeki yakıtın yanmasıyla oluşan ısıyı doğrudan çevresine yayar ve aynı zamanda suyun ısınmasını sağlar.
wooricasinogame says
Excellent piece! Your thorough summary is much appreciated. I now see the issue from a different angle thanks to your insightful comments. You made your points quite clearly with the examples you included. You have my gratitude for penning this.
Buy Specialty coffee says
An informative and well-written piece. The principles are easily understood and applied thanks to your thorough explanations and practical examples. Thank you for taking the time to provide such detailed information. Your time and knowledge are much appreciated.
Buy Coffee pods says
I found this post to be very enlightening. Your clear and concise writing style makes it easy to understand the topic, and the practical examples you provided were particularly helpful. Thank you for taking the time to create such a comprehensive resource.
Buy African espresso says
Great piece! The material you supplied is really helpful, and your writing style is both interesting and easy to understand. The examples you provided from actual life were quite helpful. They served to elucidate your arguments rather effectively. Your insightful comments are really appreciated.
Buy Specialty coffee says
What an excellent post! Reading it was really educational for me. You provided extremely well-organized material, and your explanations were both clear and brief. Your time and energy spent on this article’s research and writing are much appreciated. Anyone interested in this topic would surely benefit from this resource.