Q: What are the main types of wounds?

A: Penetrating wounds. Puncture wounds. Surgical wounds and incisions. Thermal, chemical or electric burns. Bites and stings. Gunshot wounds, or other high velocity projectiles that can penetrate the body.

Q: What are the different types of wound dressings?

A: Following are the types of wound dressings:

Gauze Dressing: Gauze dressings are made of woven or non-woven materials and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Use on: infected wounds, wounds which require packing, wounds that are draining, wounds requiring very frequent dressing changes.

Transparent Films: Transparent film dressings allow oxygen to penetrate through the dressing to the wound, while simultaneously allowing moisture vapor to be released. These dressings are generally composed of a polyurethane material. Use on: partial-thickness wounds, donor sites, minor burns, stage I and stage II pressure ulcers.

Foams: Foam dressings are less apt to stick to delicate wound beds, are non-occlusive and are composed of a film coated gel or a polyurethane material which is hydrophilic in nature. Use on: pressure ulcers, minor burns, skin grafts, diabetic ulcers, donor sites, venous ulcers.

Hydrocolloids: Hydrocolloid dressings are very absorbent and contain colloidal particles such as methylcellulose, gelatin or pectin that swell into a gel-like mass when they come in contact with exudate. They have a strong adhesive backing. Use on: burns, pressure ulcers, venous ulcers.

Alginates: Alginate dressings contain salts derived from certain species of brown seaweed. They may be woven or nonwoven and form a hydrophilic gel when they come in contact with exudate from the wound. Use on: venous ulcers, wounds with tunneling, wounds with heavy exudate.

Composites: Composite or combination dressings may be used as the primary dressing or as a secondary dressing. These dressings may be made from any combination of dressing types, but are merely a combination of a moisture retentive dressing and a gauze dressing. Use on: a wide variety of wounds, depending on the dressing.