Venous Leg Ulcers

European Wound Management Association (EWMA): Management of patients with venous leg ulcers, challenges and current best practice

The European Wound Management Association (EWMA) and Wounds Australia have developed this document 2016, aiming to highlight some of the barriers and facilitators related to implementation of VLU guidelines as well as provide clinical practice statements to overcome these and ‘fill the gaps’ currently not covered by the majority of available guidelines.

Diabetic Foot Ulcers

International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF): Guidelines on the prevention and management of diabetic foot disease

In this document they describe the basic principles of prevention, classification and treatment of diabetic foot disease, based on the six IWGDF Guideline chapters. The information in these practical guidelines is aimed at the global community of healthcare professionals who are involved in the care of persons with diabetes.

Journal of Wound Care: Identifying and treating foot ulcers in patients with diabetes, Saving feet, legs, and lives

The confusion and lack of evidence in differentiating between diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and pressure ulcers (PUs) on the feet of patients with diabetes, particularly on the heel, can lead to misdiagnosis. This can increase both financial and patient-related costs. To address and tackle those inconsistencies, the Journal of Wound Care (JWC) has published this first international consensus document. The main objectives of this project were to: Provide information on the differences between a DFU and a PU in patients with diabetes and help reduce misdiagnosis by providing and discussing assessment guidelines and also make a difference in practice through improved patient outcomes.

World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS): Local Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

This Position Document looks at the local management of DFUs against a backdrop of increased incidence, stretched resources and patient outcomes.

Pressure ulcers

Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO): Assessment and Management of Pressure Injuries for the Interprofessional Team

The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) have published this Clinical best practice guidelines that provides evidence based practice recommendations for interprofesssional teams across all care settings who are assessing and providing care to people with existing pressure injuries. This guideline is designed to help this teams to become more comfortable, confident, and competent when caring for people with existing pressure injuries.

Canadian Association of Wound Care (Wounds Canada): Best Practice Recommendations for the Prevention and Management of Pressure Injuries

The Canadian Association of Wound Care (Wounds Canada) recommendations that are included in this paper are based on the best available evidence and are intended to support the clinician and integrated team in planning and developing best practices in the prevention and management of pressure injuries.

European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP) & National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP): Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guide

The full Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) includes the evidence-based recommendations and good practice statements, together with implementation considerations, evidence summaries and evidence discussion.

Skin tears

Wounds Canada: Foundations of Best Practice for Skin and Wound Management

This paper offers a practical, easy-to-follow guide that incorporates the best available evidence. It outlines a process, or series of consecutive steps, that supports patient-centred care.

Wound International: Best Practice Recommendations for holistic strategies to promote and maintain skin integrity

ISTAP convened a group of experts from Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Australia, who met in November 2017 to provide internationally recognised recommendations for the prevention and management of skin tears, with updated definitions and terminology. This document should provide HCPs with the information and resources they need to assess, classify, treat (and prevent) skin tears in practice with confidence.

General wound healing

World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS): Consensus document - Effective Assessment & Management of Wound Exudate

This consensus document provides clear, practical guidance that will help clinicians to effectively assess and manage exudate to prevent exudate-related complications and to improve outcomes for patients.