Wound Assessment & Monitoring with the Snapshot Suite: A Focus on Debridement
What is Debridement?
Debridement is the removal of dead (necrotic) or infected skin tissue to assist with wound healing. Debridement isn’t necessarily required for all wounds but is an essential procedure for wounds that are not improving and stalled in healing. This could be a chronic ulcer that is not healing properly or a wound that has become infected. Once the necrotic tissue is removed, the wound can restart the healing process. This therapy will reduce bacteria in the wound and help healthy tissue grow.
Debridement of a callus from a reoccurring ulcer. (Images courtesy of Dr. Jeffrey Niezgoda, MD)
Several types of debridement methods can be utilized in a typical wound care clinic or hospital. Usually, a combination of therapies is integrated into a treatment plan. The clinician considers what therapies are the most appropriate based on several patient factors including the wound type, the age and health of the patient, and the patient’s overall risk for complications. Debridement can be done with live maggots, special dressings, or ointments that soften the tissue. However, sharp debridement is the most common type. Sharps debridement is when necrotic or nonviable tissue is cut off or removed using a scalpel, curette, laser, or ultrasonic device.
Using Bacterial Autofluorescence (BAF) imaging during debridement interventions
BAF imaging with SnapshotGLO can be used to detect and document high bacterial bioburden in the wound and periwound, both pre- and post-intervention. It can detect cyan and red fluorescence in real time at the bedside.
SnapshotGLO supports clinicians to perform a thorough wound assessment to detect bacteria that may be contributing to a stalled wound. The clinician can image the wound pre-debridement to locate the bacteria. Post-debridement, another SnapshotGLO image provides the clinician with objective data supporting the need for further debridement or if the intervention was successful. The data and images can be used in the clinician’s documentation and support medical necessity.
SnapshotGLO images (left: clinical, right: bacterial autofluorescence) showing in the top row which was pre-debridement the cyan glow, and on the bottom image, the eradication of the cyan glow indicating reduced bacterial bioburden.
Using NIRS during debridement interventions
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) imaging with SnapshotNIR can be used to track and document the level of oxygen saturation (StO2) and tissue perfusion in the wound bed and peri-wound. This information is used to guide a change in the treatment plan and may contribute to a more effective wound healing process.
Using SnapshotNIR during the examination allows the clinician to re-evaluate the wound post-debridement and make sure that the intervention was complete and adequate. If there are areas of poor oxygenation then additional debridement can be performed. Objective data showing the change in deoxyhemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin during serial debridements and supporting this with the oxygenation images can enhance documentation and help prove medical necessity to payors.
Pre-debridement SnapshotNIR StO2 and clinical image showing 82% StO2.
Post-debridement SnapshotNIR StO2 and clinical image showing 89% StO2.
Pre-debridement SnapshotNIR Hemoglobin View image showing 82% StO2, 0.27 deoxyhemoglobin, 1.17 oxyhemoglobin and 1.44 total hemoglobin.
Post-debridement SnapshotNIR Hemoglobin View image showing 89% StO2, 0.14 deoxyhemoglobin, 1.15 oxyhemoglobin and 1.29 total hemoglobin.
In the example above, the SnapshotNIR images show an increase in StO2 from pre- to post-debridement by 7% (from 82% to 89%) which can support the use of the intervention. For deeper insight on the effectiveness of the debridement, the clinician can check the Hemoglobin View images which will demonstrate if there was a change in deoxyhemoglobin, often indicating if there is still devitalized tissue that needs removal. In this example, the change in deoxyhemoglobin went from 0.27 to 0.14.
SnapshotNIR and SnapshotGLO in clinical practice for debridement
They are portable for all points of care
Effective devices that provide actionable insights for wound debridement
Point of care assessment helps clinicians easily monitor the wound bed and peri-wound without the use of dyes or invasive bacterial collection procedures
Identify non-viable tissue and bacterial burden in and around the wound bed for debridement
Continual wound monitoring: clinicians can assess wound healing progress and evaluate wounds that are failing to improve
Document and track patient progress by comparing the same patient throughout their care to evaluate the effect of treatment modalities
Case Example: CAMP Application and Wound Bed Preparation
In the case of debridement, the economic burden of a failed CAMPs (cellular, acellular, and matrix products) application is high, both from the cost of the product and the extended period it will take to heal the wound. SnapshotNIR is the best assessment device to determine if the wound bed is fully prepared after debridement and viable for the successful application of a CAMP.
Case Example: Surgical Wound Debridement
The presence of non-functional suture material in compromised wounds presenting to wound care specialists is not uncommon. A collaborative relationship founded on excellent communication with the referring surgeon allows appropriate and thorough wound bed debridement enhancing care. This case clearly shows that wound debridement complimented and guided by bacterial autofluorescence imaging using SnapshotGLO decreases wound bioburden and enhances debridement outcomes.
References:
Wound Debridement, https://www.healogics.com/wound-care-patient-information/wound-debridement/
Web CME, WCW: Applying a Kerecis Graft to a Traumatic Wound (SnapshotNIR), Dr. Jeffrey Niezgoda
Web CME, WCW: Serial Debridement of Heel Eschar, Dr. Jeffrey Niezgoda
To read more about the science behind SnapshotNIR and to watch an explainer video, click here.
Original article written on August 3 2022. Updated on April 2 2025. Updated July 29, 2026.