Surgical debridement is the removal of dead tissue using sharp instruments: a scalpel, scissors, or other sharp tools. It follows a set order of steps.
The provider will clean the skin around the wound, probe the wound to see how deep it is, cut away the dead tissue, and clean the wound. With a foot ulcer, the skin surrounding the wound is cleaned and disinfected, and the wound is probed with a metal instrument to see how deep it is and to see if there is any foreign material or an object in the ulcer.
Where it happens varies. Debridement with sharp instruments can be done at the bedside, in the office, in the wound care center, or in the operating room. That depends on whether there’s adequate anesthesia and the ability to control complications such as bleeding. You may need general anesthesia, which means you’re asleep and pain-free, for debridement of a large wound.
Who does it is not left open. The healthcare professional should be skilled, trained, qualified, and licensed to provide surgical treatment. You should never try to do debridement yourself.
Afterward, expect the wound to look worse before it looks better. Your wound may seem bigger and deeper after debridement, and the area will be red or pink in color and look like fresh meat.
It is one method among several. The others are a whirlpool bath, washing away dead tissue with a syringe, wet-to-dry dressings that pull dead tissue off as they are removed, and enzymes applied to dissolve dead tissue. Which is used is a clinical decision about the wound.