The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Wound Identification and Dressing Selection Chart

NON-DIABETIC BLACK NECROTIC WOUND

AIM: Rehydrate and loosen eschar by autolytic debridement.
Surgical or mechanical removal is the most effective method of removal of necrotic material and should only be performed by a
trained health professional. The alternative is autolytic debridement under hydrocolloid dressings, or rehydration with amorphous
hydrogels with a film or low absorbent non-adherent dressing.
Skin barrier wipe or zinc paste can be applied to protect the surrounding skin from becoming macerated and breaking down.

or or
+
or
YELLOW NECROTIC WOUND WITH HIGH EXUDATE
AIM: Remove slough and absorb exudate.
Use hydroactive dressings, or alginate dressings covered by a foam dressing.
Primary dressing examples: alginate; hydrofiber; or hydroactive. Secondary dressing examples: high absorbent non-adherent
dressing; or foam. For deeper wounds, use an alginate alternative dressing.
When the risk of infection is high, an antimicrobial dressing should be considered, for example silver dressings.
or or or
+
HA

YELLOW NECROTIC WOUND WITH LOW EXUDATE

AIM: Remove slough and absorb exudate.
In particular use amorphous hydrogels, as they rehydrate, or hydrocolloid, to aid in the removal of slough.
Amorphous hydrogels should be covered with a true foam, as some foam-like products will absorb the gel.
Hydrocolloid paste should be covered by a foam or film dressing. Hydrocolloid dressings need no secondary dressing.
Polysaccharide Iodine may also be used.

or H or or
+ +
or

CAVITY WOUND WITH HIGH EXUDATE

AIM: Absorb exudate, maintain moist environment and promote granulation.
Use an alginate, or cavity foam dressing, or hydrofibre, or alternative cavity filler, or hydroactive dressing.
Cover with a high absorbent non-adherent dressing or foam.
A cavity should be packed loosely and the base of wound bed should be visible.

or or or
+
HA

EXUDATING WOUND WITH SLOUGH AND CLINICAL SIGNS OF INFECTION

AIM: Clear infection, deslough and promote healing.
Use systemic antibiotics together with either an alginate or alginate alternate dressing, or a polysaccharide iodine dressing,
or an antibacterial fibre, or a silver dressing, or medicinal honey, or an amorphous hydrogel covered by a foam dressing.

or or or F or or or
+

L EG E N D
Hydrocolloid Sheet e.g. Duoderm®/ Comfeel™, Replicare Ultra™, Hydrocoll® Foam Dressings Regular e.g. Lyofoam Max™, PermaFoam®
H Hydrocolloid Paste e.g. Duoderm Paste® Alginate e.g. Kaltostat®, Algisite M™, Sorbsan™, Comfeel Seasorb™
Hydrogel e.g. IntraSite gel™, Comfeel Purilon Gel™, Solosite™, DuoDERM Gel®, Alginate Cavity Filler e.g. Kaltostat®, Algisite M™, Sorbsan™, Comfeel Seasorb™
Solugel™, Flaminal Hydro and Forte™, Hydrogel Sheet eg. Hydrosorb™, Nu-gel™
Non-Adherent Dressings Low absorbent e.g. Melolin™, Cutilin™, Telfa®
Medicinal Honey e.g. Algivon Plus ®, Algivon Plus Ribbon® HA Non-Adherent Dressings High absorbent e.g. Exu Dry™, Mesorb®, Zetuvit®
Mechanical Debridement e.g. Scalpel, Scissors
Zinc Paste Bandages e.g. ZipZoc™, Gelocast®
PAG E 1

Foam Dressings Silicone e.g. Mepilex® and Mepilex Border, Allevyn™,

Allevyn Gentle™, Allevyn Gentle Border™, Allevyn Life™ Alginate Alternative Fibre e.g. Aquacel®, Aquacel Extra ™
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Wound Identification and Dressing Selection Chart
SUPERFICIAL WOUND WITH CLINICAL SIGNS OF INFECTION
AIM: Clear infection, promote healing.
Use systemic antibiotics together with either an alginate or alginate alternate dressing, or a polysaccharide iodine dressing,
or an antibacterial fibre, or a silver dressing, or medicinal honey, or an amorphous hydrogel covered by a foam dressing.

or or or F or or or
+

MALODOROUS WOUNDS
AIM: Clear infection, reduce odour, absorb exudate, protect.
Systemic antibiotics should be used only if clinical signs of infection are seen. Use an alginate with charcoal dressing, or a foam
with charcoal dressing, or a polysaccharide iodine dressing, or a silver dressing, or medicinal honey. Consider a short course of
topical metronidazole gel.

or or or or or or
+ + +

CAVITY WOUND WITH LOW EXUDATE

AIM: Hydrate to maintain moist environment, promote granulation.
The recommended products include a cavity foam in combination with an amorphous hydrogel, or an alginate dressing. A cavity
should be packed loosely and base of wound bed should be visible.

or
+

SUPERFICIAL GRANULATING WOUND WITH HIGH EXUDATE

AIM: Maintain moist environment, absorb exudate, and promote epithelialisation.
Use alginate dressings, or hydroactive dressings, or foam dressings. Cover with a non-adherent high absorbent dressing.
Alginate alternative dressing may also be used with a foam dressing.

or or or
+

SUPERFICIAL GRANULATING WOUND WITH LOW EXUDATE

AIM: Maintain moist environment and promote epithelialisation.
Use foam dressings, or film dressings, or island film dressings, or hydrocolloid dressing or paste covered with a non-adherent dressing,
or tulle, or zinc paste bandage.

or
or or
or or
or or
or H
H or
or or
or
+ +

L EG E N D
Systemic Antibiotics (dependant on type of bacteria) Island Film Dressings e.g. Opsite PostOp™, Cutifilm Plus™, Tegaderm plus pad™,
Elastoplast Aqua Protect®
F Antibacterial Fibre e.g. Sorbact®
Silver Dressings e.g. Acticoat™, Biatain Ag™, AquacelAg®, Atrauman Ag®, Mepilex Ag
Topical Antibiotic (use only if clinical signs of infection) e.g. Metronidazole Gel
Hydroactive Dressings e.g. Cutinova Hydro™, Biatane™, Tielle™, TenderWet Active®
Tulle e.g. Adaptic™, Atrauman®, Cuticerin™, Silicone Tulle Mepitel®
Polysaccharide Iodine e.g. Iodosorb™
Shaped Cavity Foam Dressings e.g. Cavicare™ Allevyn Cavity Dressings™
pvi
Povidone Iodine Solution e.g. Betadine™
Film Dressings e.g. OpSite™, Tegaderm™ Mepitel Film, Opsite Gentle
PAG E 2

Hypertonic Saline e.g. Mesalt™, Curasalt™

Odour Absorbing Dressings Alginate (contain charcoal) e.g. Carboflex™,
Activated Charcoal Actisorb Plus™
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Wound Identification and Dressing Selection Chart
EPITHELIALISING
AIM: Maintain moist environment and protect and insulate.
Use film dressings, or island film dressings, or hydrocolloid dressings, or tulle covered with a non-adherent dressing, or non-adherent
dressings, or zinc paste bandage.

or or or or or
+

SKIN TEARS
AIM: To rapidly heal fragile skin.
Aim to achieve closure with elastic strips without tension on application.
Apply a small amount of hydrogel to the peri wound and cover with a silicone foam dressing initially. Follow up with the application
of a patch of zinc paste bandage.
If the wound is bleeding, apply a haemostatic alginate for a short time.
If there is loss of tissue, apply a silicone tulle first.

+ + or + +

NEUROPATHIC DIABETIC WOUND

AIM: Maintain moist environment and protect and off-load.
Use a polysaccharide iodine, or silver dressing and a foam dressing and an off-loading device.

or

ISCHAEMIC DIABETIC WOUND

AIM: To Prevent infection. NB: urgent referral if signs of infection.
Aim to keep the ischaemic area dry with topical povidone iodine with foam for protection.

pvi or

HYPERGRANULATING WOUND
Aim: Control hypergranulation and exclude neoplasm.
Hypergranulation can be reduced by applying hypertonic saline foam and compression.
It is important to exclude neoplasia. If uncertain then biopsy.

ADVISORY STATEMENT Information contained in this chart is only advisory and any suggestions should be used in conjunction
with clinical knowledge and skills.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) acknowledges Monash University and Associate Professor Geoff
Sussman OAM in developing and producing the previous versions of the DVA Wound Care Module. DVA acknowledges Associate
Professor Geoff Sussman OAM in developing this revised edition in consultation and review with fellow members of the Advisory
Wound Care Committee: Associate Professor Michael Woodward AM (Chair) and Ms Judith Barker.
NB: The products listed on this chart are examples only and are listed on the Repatriation Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits
PAG E 3

at the time of publication. For more information see www.pbs.gov.au/browse/rpbs.

P03202