Current studies indicate that HOCl, the active ingredient in Clireon's Wound & Care solutions, may assist in the management of hard-to-heal chronic wounds by decreasing the bacterial numbers and by penetrating and disrupting the biofilms.^[6]

• Lacerations
• Bite wounds
• Shearing wounds
• Abrasions
• Infected wounds
• Abscesses

Irrigation of the wound washes away both visible and microscopic debris. This reduces the bacterial load in the tissue, which helps decrease wound complications.
The irrigation also allows for better examination of any underlying tissues.
The most important factor in wound irrigation is the use of large volumes to
facilitate removal of debris.^[4]

Clireon™ benefits the wound because:

• Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity
  
• Non-irritating, non-sensitizing, non-toxic
• Can be used to loosen encrusted dressings in addition to irrigating loose debris and bacteria from the wound bed
• Has rapid antimicrobial activity at concentrations safe for animal cells

After wound preparation and hair removal, debridement can be performed. Debridement may involve removal of large segments of tissue (nonselective) or may be performed in a more selective manner, enabling preservation of specific tissues. Skin and local tissue viability should be assessed before any attempted debridement. Skin that is blue-black, leathery, thin, or white is usually not viable.^[4]

Clireon's Spray and Gel can be used to aid in the debridement process:

• Generously soak gauze and apply it directly to the wound for 3-5 minutes. This helps to clean and loosen necrotic tissue, remove foreign elements, and cellular debris.
• Use the gauze to gently scrub the wound; use additional debridement tools as needed.

After initial inspection, irrigation, and debridement, a decision must be made whether to close the wound or to manage it as an open wound. If the wound is left open, it should be managed for optimal healing.

When a wound cannot or should not be closed, open wound management may be appropriate to kill bacteria and promote long-term healing. Such wounds include those in which there has been a loss of skin that makes closure impossible or those that are too grossly infected to close.
Open wound management is based on repeated bandaging and debridement as
needed until the wound heals.^[4] 
 
Traditional therapy calls for wet-to-dry dressings initially. The initial wide meshed gauze dressings help with mechanical debridement at every bandage change. Until a granulation bed forms, the bandage should be changed at least once daily. In the early stages of healing, the bandage may need to be changed as often as twice daily. After granulation tissue develops, the bandage should be changed to a dry, nonstick dressing so the granulation bed is not disrupted.^[4] 
 
With the newer concept of moist wound healing, bandaging is combined with dead tissue debridement to promote wound healing. The use of moist wound dressings keeps white cells healthier, allowing them to aid in the debridement process.^[4]