SA Bandaging Techniques

Question 1

Why do we need bandages?

Answer 1

Aid to the ongoing healing of a wound, surgical site or in the event of first aid
Bandaging allows:
○ Stabilisation of the wound surface
○ Prevention of disruption to the healing response of the body
○ Protection from trauma or contamination
Self trauma is a big issue in veterinary medicine
Migrating bacteria could colonise and infect the site
○ Local pain relief
○ In a first aid situation:
Prevents further trauma
Aids clotting
Prevents further contamination

Question 2

What types of dressing are available?

Answer 2

Dry
Impregnanted
Semi-occlusive
Absorbent
Alginates
Other

Question 3

What are dry dressings?

Answer 3

Sterile clean swabs applied directly to the wound
Normally used for wet-dry or dry-dry
Useful for debridement of a wound if surgical intervention is not needed
Encourages new tissue growth

Question 4

What are impregnated dressings?

Answer 4

Have something on them to facilitate wound healing
○ Petroleum jelly or antibiotics
Can be used for superficial open wounds
Good for when infection if present

Question 5

What are semi-occlusive dressings?

Answer 5

Central absorbent core with non-stick layer
Often come with a adhesive to allow the dressing to be kept in place
Absorb small amounts of exudate
Good for short term post surgical closure
Small wounds

Question 6

What are absorbent dressings?

Answer 6

Good for large exudative wounds that are not suitable for surgery
Keep area remaining moist to encourage new tissue growth
Often padded and colour coded to show which side goes onto the wound

Question 7

What are alginate dressings?

Answer 7

Made of naturally occurring kelp/seaweed
Can be moistened and applied to static wounds
Encourages inflammatory factors to be released into wound
○ Restart wound healing
Will dry out
Need to be flushed away with saline

Question 8

What other dressings are available?

Answer 8

• Manuka impregnated
  ○ Anti-microbial affects
  ○ Prevent infection while encouraging healing
  
  • Silver impregnated
    ○ Bactericidal affects
    ○ Prevent infection while encouraging healing
  • Topical wound gels
    ○ Keep wound moist whilst drawing out exudate into absorbent dressing
    ○ Used if there is a large crevice that other dressing won’t fit into

Question 9

How many layers of bandage are there?

Answer 9

3
Primary, secondary, tertiary

Question 10

Primary layer

Answer 10

Contact layer
Most important part of bandage
In direct contact with wound
(dressing)
Example - semi-occlusive dressing

Question 11

Secondary layer(s)

Answer 11

Made of supportive/padding layer and conforming layer

Question 12

Supportive/padding layer

Answer 12

Comfort
Absorbs exudative material that may leak through dressing
Needs to be thick enough to prevent ‘strikethrough’
Example - cotton wool or gamgee

Question 13

Conforming Layer

Answer 13

Applies light pressure
Hold padding in place
Also aids in absorption of exudate
Don’t apply to tight - discomfort or restriction of circulation
Example - gauze

Question 14

Tertiary layer

Answer 14

Last layer - outer layer
Holds all the players in place
Protective material
Cohesive layer that sticks to itself not patient
Tightens on application
Sometimes adhesive layer is preferable - stronger
Don’t stick to patient - will be painful on removal
Example - Vetwrap

Question 15

What is a Robert-Jones bandage?

Answer 15

Most common immobilising bandage
THREE padding and conforming layers
Useful for emergency stabilisation of long bone fractures
Immediate post surgical protection