The primary goal in wound management is to facilitate wound healing without development of a wound infection. A healthy wound bed is one that has adequate blood supply to support repair, without contamination or necrotic tissue that will impede healing and increase the risk of infection.

Unless simple and small, many wounds will require frequent evaluation, generally at least once daily. Evaluation frequency will be based on location, extent, severity, and other factors. Many wounds will need to be managed as open wounds, protected by bandages, before definitive surgical repair.

The steps in daily wound evaluation are to:

1. Assess the response to or need for antibiotics.
2. Debride necrotic tissues and lavage the wound.
3. Assess for surgical closure.
4. Protect the wound.