Saline soaks in wound care. Sacred cow? More harmful then good?

[adrienurse, LPN]

There seems to be a lot of mixed opinions over the prescribing of saline soaks for wounds. Say for example, someone has an infected toe. Some people are of the opinion that it will be remedied by daily or twice a day soaking of the affected area in a saline bath. I wonder what is the theory is on what this is supposed to do?

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Warm salt water draws out pus.

[ASSEDO]

The best wound care I every witnessed, was Epson Salts soaks and a heating pad. That was 30 years ago.

[woody62, RN]

The best wound care I every witnessed, was Epson Salts soaks and a heating pad. That was 30 years ago.

Wet to dry always seemed to work, althought they were painful to the patient upon removal. By the way, do you work at Erlanger Downtown?

Woody:balloons:

[lsyorke, RN]

I work in wound care. Wet to dry is not a recommended wound treatment. While it does debride, if removed dry, it also tears away granulation tissue. A moist environment is best for heading, but it must remain moist to promote healing.

[leslie :-D]

i think saline is extremely effective in healing clean wounds.

unless i aim to debride, i always pour ns over a dsg that has dried.

if you saturate a dsg, your risk macerating the wound margins.

leslie

[Fiona59]

Isn't it just common sense to pour fresh saline over the dried out dressing prior to removing it? You don't need an order and the patient will tell you if it's uncomfortable when you touch the old dsg.

[cathleenrmermaid7]

oh please someone help me. I have been looking all over the internet for help. I am a cna right now and in pre-reqs for nursing but here it is I have a 27 yrold with cp. and I have 2 pcas taking care of my daughter tonight they called and said my daughters wound I think it was caused by a hoyer pad 5 days ago I did look at it 2 days ago and I put iodine on it. She also has severe dependent edema that i wrap uniboots on and has a history of dubciti ulcers but I have these both under control. She sees a wound care specialist every two weeks. today is sat and i work tomorrow sun. When I assesesed it 2days ago it looked alittle infected alittle black but no oder no temp with her. I cleaned it but tonight Im so worried i will check it tomorrow am, when i see it tomorow what would the red flags be to call emts to go to the hospital? the pcas said she does seem to have a temp but it could be the heat in maine right now. and they said the wound smells very foul. please any anamouys advice. thank you and god bless.

[leslie :-D]

cathleen, your dtr needs to be seen immediately.

it's not a matter of what to look for.

she has a temp and a foul-smelling wound.

it needs attn now.

leslie

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

cathleen

I agree with previous post, we are not able to give medical advice on this site. Always better if in any doubt to go and see your own doctor

[TrudyRN]

Cathleen, your daughter needs care now. Do not delay.

OP, there is nothing like warm salt water soaks to pull out pus and soreness. Mom used to have us kids soak twisted ankles in it or fingers with redness and soreness around the nail (paronychia?). The theory of it? Oh my - going way back in my old brain to physics, gradients, I recall something about osmosis and related words. Sorry I can't recall but that will give you a place to start.

Naturally, your care depends on the extent of infection, location of it, and all of the other factors involving a particular patient.

[woody62, RN]

cathleen, your dtr needs to be seen immediately.

it's not a matter of what to look for.

she has a temp and a foul-smelling wound.

it needs attn now.

leslie

I agree with Leslie. And even if the discharge did not have a foul odor, the black tissue is an indication of dead tissue. And a choice breeding ground for an infection. If her doctor will not see her or do anything, cart her off to the ER.

Woody:balloons: