Is Marathon liquid (debridement solution) used to treat a partial flap skin tear?

Marathon Liquid is Not Used for Skin Tear Treatment

Marathon liquid (a debridement solution) is not indicated for treating partial flap skin tears, and there is no evidence supporting its use for this purpose. The provided evidence does not mention Marathon liquid at all in the context of skin tear management, and standard guidelines recommend a completely different approach.

Standard Treatment for Partial Flap Skin Tears

Initial Wound Cleansing

• Gently cleanse the wound using warmed sterile water, saline, or a mild antimicrobial solution (such as chlorhexidine 1/5000) to remove debris and reduce bacterial load 1
• Avoid aggressive cleansing that could further damage the fragile tissue 1

Flap Management

• Reposition the skin flap to cover the wound bed, allowing it to act as a biological dressing 1
• The detached epidermis may be left in situ to serve as a natural protective barrier 2, 1
• If blisters are present, decompress them by piercing and expressing or aspirating fluid while maintaining the blister roof as protective covering 2, 1

Dressing Application

• Apply a greasy emollient (such as 50% white soft paraffin with 50% liquid paraffin) over the wound area to maintain moisture and prevent adherence 2, 1
• Cover with a non-adherent primary dressing (such as Mepitel™ or Telfa™) to prevent disruption of healing tissue 2, 1
• Apply a secondary foam dressing (such as Exu-Dry™) to collect exudate and provide protection 2, 1

Key Principles

• Silicone-based dressings have demonstrated superior healing outcomes, with 96.9% of skin tears healing within 3 weeks compared to 34.4% with non-silicone dressings 3
• Deeper debridement is usually unnecessary for skin tears and may actually impair healing—only remove superficial debris 1
• Change dressings based on exudate levels, typically every 5-7 days if no complications arise 1

What to Avoid

• Do not use topical antiseptic or antimicrobial dressings for routine wound healing 1
• Avoid honey, bee-related products, collagen, or alginate dressings for routine treatment 1
• Do not perform aggressive debridement, as skin tears typically heal within 7-21 days with proper conservative management 1

Monitoring

• Monitor for signs of infection including increased pain, erythema, exudate, or odor 1
• Take wound swabs for bacterial and candidal culture only if signs of infection develop 1
• Administer systemic antibiotics only if clinical signs of infection are present 1