Redefining Slough: A New Classification System to Improve Wound Bed Assessment and Management

Management of the wound bed to optimize healing accounts for a large portion of the considerable cost of wound management in the United States. Slough is a term that most clinicians use every day but is one that few truly understand. Most clinicians use slough to refer to any yellowish material noted on the wound surface. If the material is not red or black, it is classified as slough. In this article, new terminology and a clinically useful classification system for the various forms of slough are presented with the goal of helping clinicians better describe the wound bed appearance and choose appropriate interventions to maximize wound healing.