A wound plaster consists of an adhesive, sterile wound dressing that can be placed on small to medium-sized wounds to prevent the wound from becoming infected. At the same time, it also prevents secretions such as blood or wound water from escaping into the surrounding area. At the same time, the wound plaster protects the fresh wound from impacts or wetness.
What is a wound plaster?
A wound plaster consists of an adhesive, sterile wound dressing that can be placed on small to medium-sized wounds to prevent the wound from becoming infected. A wound plaster is a wound dressing that has a sterile area in the middle and an adhesive area on both ends or all around. There are different types of wound dressings used in different contexts. Wound dressings can be custom cut or sold individually packaged. Custom cut wound dressings are available from a roll or from pre-made larger cut dressing formats. Wound plasters can have different widths and be made of different materials. One can use a wound plaster both to provide initial care for small wounds in the home environment, and in the postoperative context to cover the fresh surgical scar with wound plaster.
Forms, types and styles
In hospitals, wound dressings can be used on large rolls and in a variety of widths so that external sutures of different sizes can be sterilely covered with them. Where thick bandages used to be applied, there is now a realization that wound plasters are more hygienic and practical. In addition, modern wound plasters allow more air to reach the wound than bandages. In view of different needs, wound plasters with fabric-like tissues and those made of gauze-like materials have been developed. Allergy sufferers can rely on special wound plasters with allergen-free adhesive surfaces, while children are given colorfully printed wound plasters. Some plasters are waterproof, others are not. So-called spray-on plasters are also wound plasters in the true sense of the word. However, they are not suitable for wound care in every type of wound. In the case of extensive injuries, one would not use a wound plaster, but a bandage. For small wounds, you can certainly make a pressure dressing using a tightly wrapped wound plaster. For larger injuries that require pressure dressings, a wound plaster will not suffice. Injection plasters are small wound plasters that can be used after an injection. So-called fixation plasters do not have a sterile wound dressing. They are not wound plasters, but dressing aids.
Structure, function and mode of action
In terms of structure and function, all conventional wound plasters are similar, with the exception of the already mentioned spray plasters. In principle, all wound plasters are equipped with a sterile gauze or gauze strip in the middle, which comes to lie directly on the wound or surgical suture. The size of the wound plaster overlay must correspond to that of the wound to be covered. Adhesive surfaces are found all around or only on two outer sides, with which the wound plaster is attached to the healthy skin. In the case of sensitive wound plasters, removal is relatively painless. With other types, it can be quite painful. Often the sterile layer of the wound plaster sticks to the wound in the case of weeping or bleeding wounds. Here, the wound plaster should always be removed with special care so that the wound can heal unaffected.
Medical and health benefits
The practicality of a wound plaster is its hygienic single use and ease of application. In the past, used bandages had to be washed and sterilized. From a hygienic point of view, the wound plaster is much more suitable for use in hospitals or private homes. Individual plaster strips can be hygienically packaged to take with you and you always have a sterile wound dressing for small wounds at hand. In addition, there is significantly less waste when using wound plasters. Germ-infected wound dressings of this size can be easily disposed of. From a medical point of view, wound healing is much faster under the influence of air. At the same time, the practical wound plaster ensures that germs are eliminated. Dressing changes have become easier thanks to wound plasters. The patient is more mobile right from the start. Although a wound plaster is not suitable in every postoperative context, it is suitable in a surprisingly large number of them.Its great strength is in private households, where it can be used at any time and – cut from the roll or a larger sheet – can be cut to size individually. This has made the initial treatment of cuts, abrasions and lacerations much easier and accessible to everyone.