Debridement - the surgical excision of dead and contaminated tissue - is an important component of the management of open wounds and fractures. Key components in the evolution of modern technique of wound management were:
• wound extension to relieve pressure (akin to a modern day fasciotomy) (Pare, Desault, Larrey)
• antiseptic technique (Lister) and
• wound and contaminant excision (Pare, Desault, Larrey, Reyher).
There has been confusion over the meaning and derivation of the term debridement.
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13.
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15.
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17.
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