Safe debridement in the community

A new debridement therapy 

for the community setting — 

Debrisoft®

Debrisoft (Activa Healthcare) is a new 

method of mechanical debridement 

for superficial wounds that removes 

debris, necrotic material, slough and 

exudate (Haycocks and Chadwick, 

2012). The advantage of this method is 

that it is extremely simple and easy to 

use causing little or no pain (Collarte et 

al, 2011; Johnson, 2011; Flinton, 2011; 

Hampton, 2011; Prouvost, 2012).

Debrisoft consists of soft, polyester 

fibres, which are secured and knitted 

together into a pad. The fibres are cut 

at a special angle, length and thickness 

to ensure flexibility (see patient 

information here: http://www.

activahealthcare.co.uk/debrisoft).

Debrisoft has a wound contact side 

that is fleecy in appearance and, 

once wetted, is gently wiped over 

the surface of the wound. In the case 

of thick tenacious slough and hard 

necrosis, it is recommended that the 

tissue is softened prior to using the pad 

(Benbow, 2011a,b). The debridement 

process is also quick (ranges from 2–12 

minutes) (Bahr et al, 2011; Shepherd, 

2011; Johnson, 2011; Whitaker, 2011; 

Fumarola, 2012; Prouvost, 2012). 

Debrisoft has been described in case 

studies as effective in debriding a 

variety of wound types including 

venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers 

(neuropathic and neuro-ischaemic), 

arterial ulcers, mixed aetiology ulcers, 

pressure ulcers and traumatic wounds 

(Haemmerle et al, 2011; Johnson, 

2011; Sharpe and Concannon, 2011; 

Green, 2011; Fumarola, 2012; Alblas 

and Klicks, 2012). 

A number of smaller prospective 

pilot, non-comparative studies and 

case series indicate good debridement 

results after single use on a variety 

of tissue types, such as slough and 

necrosis (Hamemmerle et al, 2010).

The removal of hyperkeratosis 

as discussed earlier can be a long 

and protracted process, however, 

Debrisoft has been shown to be 

a speedy and effective method of 

removing hyperkeratotic scales 

(Collarte et al, 2011; Van den 

Wijngaard and Andriessen, 2012).

A larger study of 60 patients with 

chronic wounds, of which 57 were 

included in the analysis, found that 

the monofilament fibre pad was 

effective in 93.4% (142/152)  

of debridement episodes (Bahr  

et al, 2011).

An advantage of mechanical 

debridement is that it can remove 

the non-viable tissue quickly. 

A debridement technique that 

removes non-viable tissue rapidly is 

an attractive option to the patient 

and the practitioner. It is reassuring 

to know that a product is available 

on prescription in the UK that 

allows clinicians to simply wipe 

the wound bed and immediately 

remove the devitalised tissue 

without causing pain and trauma 

(Bahr et al, 2011).