Lower limb ulcers are one of the most common chronic wounds in the UK and have a negative impact on health-related quality of life (Phillips et al, 2020). Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) often present with excessive exudate, which may damage the wound bed and
periwound skin; and therefore act as a barrier to wound healing. Cleaning and debridement are key to the management of devitalised tissue and exudate. Although debridement helps promote the healing of both arterial and venous leg ulcers, its use may be restricted by pain levels associated with the procedure (Claeys et al, 2011). Because pain can be a barrier to patients tolerating debridement, this may compromise the healing process (Roberts et al, 2019). A small-scale evaluation was recently completed to investigate the efficacy of wound debridement pads, together with patient perceptions of the treatment. The impact on pain and tolerance of pain during the use of
pads was explored. Spending time explaining the potential benefits of debridement on wound healing and listening to patient concerns appeared to have a positive impact on acceptance of treatment.