Table 3 Delphi results regarding wound care

Ice packing over the wound is recommended for one to three days after injury, which can be performed for 10–15 min three to four times per day. Ice packing may help to stop the bleeding and alleviate swelling and pain. In the meantime, the injured limb should be elevated above the heart to alleviate swelling and discomfort, and over-activity of the injured limb should be avoided.

Hot packing is recommended 3 days after injury to improve circulation and alleviate the swelling of the wound.

Changing the dressing is suggested 2 days after injury for wounds. Normal saline can be used to clean the wound. The dressing should be kept dry and can be changed daily after bathing.

Please follow the orders of your doctor and other professionals to care for your wound. For wound care, you may need:

Two clean disposable gloves

Normal saline

Small gauze or sterile cotton swab to clean the wound

Large gauze to cover the wound

Adhesive tape

Procedure for changing the dressing:

First, clean and wash your hands and put on the clean gloves. Then, remove the covered gauze from the wound.

Observe the color and odor of the discharge from the wound on the gauze.

If the gauze adheres to the wound, normal saline can be used to rinse the gauze, and then the gauze can be removed gently a few minutes later.

You may use normal saline to rinse the wound in addition to using a small gauze or sterile cotton swabs.

The wound can be cleaned by moving a small gauze or a sterile cotton swab up and down or in and out circularly, and the gauze and sterile cotton swab should be placed into a zip bag after cleaning the wound.

Each wound requires a new gauze or sterile cotton swab.

In principle, the skin area within 10 cm of the wound should be cleaned with the gauze or sterile cotton swab from up to down, and the used gauze or cotton swab should be placed into a zip bag.

After cleaning the wound, a sterile cotton swab can be used to remove any discharge from the wound surface.

Ointment may be applied to the wound if indicated.

When opening the bag with the large gauze, put on another pair of clean gloves, and you can hold the corner of the gauze and place the center of the gauze over the wound to cover it.

Adhere the gauze over the wound with tape. Remove the gloves and drop them into a trashcan. Finally, wash and clean your hands.

If you are allergic to tape, a low-allergy tape or bandage can be used to manage the wound.

Observe the wound carefully; tell your doctor or other professionals and visit the clinic as soon as possible if

Redness is noted over or around the wound.

The yellowish or green discharge has a bad odor or more discharge is noted from the wound.

Bleeding is noted again or cannot bestopped even with ten minutes of direct pressure.

Swelling or pain is noted around the wound.

The skin edge of the wound breaks over 0.5 cm.

The skin edge of the wound remains wet.

Your body temperature is elevated over 38.5°C.

You have any questions concerning the condition of the wound or its care.