Wound Classification Chart

Description Necrotic Sloughy Granulating Epithelialising Infected Fungating Malodorous

Treatment Debride/Rehydrate Deslough/Hydration Encourage moist Protect, promote wound Resolve Manage symptoms
Aim environment maturation e.g. bleeding, exudate, odour
(Colour) (Black) (Yellow) (Red) (Pink)
Hydrofiber* Hydrofiber* High exudate levels should Antimicrobial Hydrofiber* Alginate* & Activated
High Skin protectant Skin protectant not occur with clean Not applicable or Alginate* Charcoal*
exudate granulating wounds Skin protectant Skin protectant
Treatment
Choice for Liquid Hydrogel* or Liquid Hydrogel* or Alginate* or Hydrocolloid Antimicrobial Alginate* or Alginate* & Activated
Wounds Medium Alginate* Alginate* Skin protectant Not applicable Tulle* or Ointment* Charcoal*
with a exudate Skin protectant Skin protectant Skin protectant Skin protectant
Cavity

Low Antimicrobial Low/Non

Liquid Hydrogel* Liquid Hydrogel* Low/Non Adherent Not applicable Low/Non adherent*
exudate Adherent*

High exudate levels should Antimicrobial Alginate* & Activated

High Hydrofiber* Hydrofiber* Hydrofiber* or Alginate*
not occur with clean Hydrofiber* or Alginate* Charcoal*
exudate Skin protectant Skin protectant Skin protectant
epithelialising wounds Skin protectant Skin protectant
Treatment
choice for Liquid Hydrogel* or Liquid Hydrogel* or Alginate* or Antimicrobial Alginate* or Alginate* & Activated
Medium Hydrocolloid or Alginate* Hydrocolloid or Alginate* Hydrocolloid or Foam#
Alginate* or Hydrocolloid
Tulle* or Ointment* Charcoal*
wounds
exudate Skin protectant Skin protectant Skin protectant
Skin protectant
Skin protectant Skin protectant
without a
Cavity
Vapour permeable film or Vapour permeable film or
Low Sheet Hydrogel* or Sheet Hydrogel* or Hydrocolloid or lite foam# Hydrocolloid or Low/Non Antimicrobial Non/Low Low/Non adherent*
exudate Hydrocolloid Hydrocolloid Consider Low/Non adherent adherent or Post op/Island Adherent*
dressing dressing

Alternative Maggot therapy Maggot therapy Topical Negative Pressure Topical Negative Pressure
Therapies Therapy Therapy

*Consider secondary dressing such as a film / island / lite foam / foam / high absorbency dressing appropriate to manage wound exudate levels
#Foam dressings possess varying fluid handling capacities; please consult manufacturers instructions.
The use of antimicrobial dressings (honey, silver and iodine) should be limited to a maximum of two weeks, as the clinical picture indicates.
This is purely a guide and should not replace your clinical judgement. For further information please consult local Trust Wound Management guidelines or contact Tissue Viability.
Wound Classification Chart prepared with assistance of 3M Health Care Ltd.