What is the worst wound you've ever seen/cared for? (ie: diabetic foot ulcer with maggots)

I took care of a patient with groin to heel necrotizing fasciitis.., her entire leg was in various stages of tissue destruction some places were thru the fat layers some weren’t…. Imagine a bed sore but the entire leg….had to wet dry dressing changes twice a shift….I stuffed alcohol preps up my nose under my PPE and I still came out of that room heaving. It was so gnarly. She had already lost her entire other leg….so each dressing change was a three or more person job.

Malignant oozing scalp lesions covering 3/4 Of pt head. The stench was unbearable. And pt refused surgery.

Fungating breast cancer. The patient was on hospice thankfully, however was not accepting of Western Medicine and wanted it to be treated with CBD oil. The odor of those kinds of wounds are best addressed with Flagyl. Treat the pain and provide comfort.

I wish maggots were accepted as wound treatment in our society. There's no "worst wound" for a wound care nurse, unfortunately.

Maggots are great for wounds they eat dead tissue. A lot more effective then cutting out healthy tissue as they are selective to only dead tissue. I’ve seen & used critters for all types. I’ve seen lots between toes due to people not being able to care for themselves & it’s truly sad! Lots of our patients have poor socioeconomic & we must be their advocates! So everyone check between the toes & in those folds It’s your duty as the primary RN to find & remove them ASAP, before 3 days or they become flies. Do not wait for the Wound/Ostomy RN. Use hydrogen peroxide and a bio-bag to put them in.
Talking about “worst wounds” is just horrible! Patients suffer months from pain & disfigurement of wounds We are professionals so let’s keep our questions and answers that way.

A heart that beats after it stops beating during a cardio out of body experiences of a soul moving around as a spiritt

Obese female with flesh eating bacteria to her right hip. The wound was big enough to place 4 rolls of Kerlex before being able to complete the wet to dry dressing. The smell will stay with me forever.

Panniculus incision opened after surgery on 350lb woman had to us 4 wound vacs. Was able to heal wound. Also, completely black toes on diabetic, when cut off during surgery the toe flew across the room.

Not really disgusting but kinda funny :) I was the PICC nurse and one of my patients literally shot himself in the foot haha (He was good natured about it as he knew he was at fault drinking beers and goofing off with his buddies) He shot off his first and second toes with a good chunk of the connecting part of his foot with a hunting shot gun. After getting consent for the PICC he asked if he was still able to shoot his shot gun hahahaha After verifying which was the bracing shoulder and placing the PICC on the other side I told him sure!

Umbilical hernia pores coming out from incision side