An overview of the common methods of wound debridement.

There are several methods of wound debridement and the appropriate one should be chosen for maximum effectiveness. It therefore follows that practitioners must have a working knowledge of a wide variety of debridement methods and that they should recognize their own professional limitations and the need for referral for expert advice. This article aims to set out an overview of the indications, cautions and contraindications of the most commonly used methods of debridement at our disposal and to look briefly at some less often used alternatives.