Wound Care Plan

Fasciotomy

Last Updated

16 April 2026

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Quick Overview

Reference ID Number: WL-WCP-89

Scope of Practice (ScOP) Designation

Medical Officer,Registered Nurse (RN),Enrolled Nurse (EN)

Treatment Goals

To maintain moisture over exposed granulation tissue or muscle while awaiting reduction of compartment swelling to permit primary closure.

Aim of Dressing

To provide a non-adherent moist dressing to preserve tissue viability.

Frequency of Dressing Change

Everyday

References

Shopping List

Dressing Pack (Small),Normal Saline,Jelonet (10cm x 10cm),Zetuvit Plus (10cm x 20cm),Hypafix (5cm x 10m),Primapore (8 cm x 15 cm) – (Island Dressing)

Page Table of Contents

Product Selection Disclaimer:

The wound care products being currently used are a suggestion ONLY. They do not take into account your patient's individual needs which you must assess. No funding from medical companies has been provided and wound care products are chosen on their merit and what is available on the NSW Health State Wound Care Contract. Where an exact brand name product is not available we suggest you review the alternative tab or use another wound care product from its category eg. Hydrofibre

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Care Plans

Fasciotomy - With Shoelaces

Where a fasciotomy site includes shoelace sutures, it may be difficult and impractical to thread dressings beneath them. These sutures are intended to approximate skin edges, and once they become slack they no longer serve a functional purpose.

Swipe

Step 1

Prepare Sterile Field

Establish a sterile field and transfer sterile dressings onto it using ANTT principles.

Products Used

Dressing Pack (Small),Normal Saline,Jelonet (10cm x 10cm),Primapore (8 cm x 15 cm) – (Island Dressing)

Step 2

Clean the wound

Irrigate and clean the wound bed with normal saline.

Products Used

Gauze squares

Step 3

Apply Jelonet

Apply Jelonet over the fasciotomy site, allowing a small overlap onto the peri-wound area if required.

Products Used

Jelonet (10cm x 10cm)

Step 4

Secure the dressing

Apply an island dressing to secure the primary dressing.

Products Used

Primapore (8 cm x 15 cm) – (Island Dressing)

Fasciotomy - Surface VAC

Where shoelace sutures are not present or have become displaced, a VAC system may be used in a surface configuration to assist in approximating wound edges.

Swipe

Step 1

Prepare Sterile Field

Prepare sterile products; a large dressing pack must be used for all Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) dressings to maintain sterility and prevent compromise of the sterile field.

Products Used

Dressing Pack (Large),Vac Dressing Foam – Black – Medium,Normal Saline,Atrauman Silicone Dressing (10cm x 20cm)

Step 2

Clean wound bed

Irrigate and clean the wound bed with normal saline.

Products Used

Gauze squares,Normal Saline

Step 3

Place interface

An interface layer must be placed between the Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) foam and the tissue to prevent direct contact with the wound bed and protect granulation tissue.

Products Used

Atrauman Silicone Dressing (10cm x 20cm)