Biofilm: A structured community of microorganisms that adheres to the wound surface and rapidly reforms after debridement, contributing to persistent inflammation and delayed healing.

Continuous Debridement Phase: The period between episodic interventions in which ongoing therapies maintain wound bed cleanliness, prevent re-accumulation of slough and biofilm, and sustain healing progression.

Debridement: The removal of devitalized tissue, slough, biofilm, and contaminants from the wound bed and edges to promote progression toward healing.

Integral Debridement: A coordinated, longitudinal approach that combines primary and continuous debridement strategies over time, tailored to patient, wound, and care setting factors.

Nonviable Tissue: Devitalized tissue that lacks blood supply and impairs healing, serving as a substrate for microbial growth and requiring removal.

Primary (Standalone) Debridement: Episodic interventions, such as sharp, surgical, mechanical, or biological methods, used to rapidly remove nonviable tissue and reset the wound environment.

Secondary (Continuous) Debridement: Adjunctive approaches applied between primary interventions to sustain removal of devitalized tissue and control microbial burden.

Sharp Debridement: A technique using sterile instruments to selectively and efficiently remove nonviable tissue, often used to initiate or accelerate wound bed preparation.

Slough: A biologically active mixture of devitalized tissue, proteins, and microorganisms that impairs healing and often recurs after initial debridement.

Therapeutic Wound Cleansing: The use of appropriate solutions, techniques, and delivery methods to remove debris and reduce microbial burden without damaging viable tissue.

Wound Bed Preparation: A structured clinical framework that optimizes the wound environment through debridement, cleansing, and ongoing management to support healing.

Wound Healing Trajectory: The dynamic progression of a wound over time, reflecting response to treatment and guiding escalation or de-escalation of debridement strategies.