DEFINITION
Debridement is defined as “the removal of foreign material and dead or damaged tissue especially in a wound” in the Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. It is well demonstrated that wound healing cannot take place if necrotic tissue is not removed. Devitalized tissue is a perfect medium for infection. Debridement is needed in all types of wounds, acute and chronic, whatever be the origin of the presence of necrotic, fibrous or sloughy tissues. Necrotic tissue is submitted to bacterial proliferation, inhibits phagocytosis and epithelial cell migration, prevents an accurate assessment of the wound bed, decreases antiseptics efficacy. Debridement reduces the number of germs and toxins in the wound bed.