Wounds International is a new online wound management journal that provides clinicians with reliable and useful material that will give an instant update of all the most important current developments in wound care. Being an online journal, Wounds International will constantly evolve, whilst introducing up to the moment content for everyone in the field of wound care.

Having worked with wound management journals for the past 15 years, it is inspiring to read the content of this launch issue and to recognise the impact that the authors and commentators have had on individual patient's lives and on the evolution of wound management.

The journal will provide a number of regular features, including the following: 

Innovations

Each edition of the journal will include a focus on a specific wound type. In this launch issue, the focus is on pressure ulcers. Three leading authors, who themselves have undertaken influential work of great importance, provide succinct and informative reports of major innovations:

• Heather Orsted from Canada writes about the need to address chronic illness and to focus on wellness and prevention in order to reduce pressure ulcer prevalence.
• Mike Clark from the UK reports on the recently available major new international pressure ulcer guidelines.
• Hiromi Sanada from Japan describes the use of thermography and ultrasound to predict pressure ulcer deterioration.

The innovative approaches these authors describe for pressure ulcer prevention and management will have significant relevance for practitioners worldwide.

Wound digest

A key objective of Wounds International is to offer a service that will relieve clinicians of the need to trawl exhaustively through myriad literature sources. A digest will be provided each quarter that will give a summary of key research and reports related to a specific wound type - in this issue, pressure ulcers. We make no apologies for duplicating the easy-to-use, very successful digest format used by our partner, The Diabetic Foot Journal.

Made Easy series

Wounds International will ask the questions that clinicians do not usually ask and provide clear answers. The Made Easy series will address this need and tackle 'hot' topics that are often complex and difficult to understand. 'MMPS made easy' is first in this series.

Technology review

Each issue of the journal will also present an update on a particular technology or dressing type, starting with a review of hydrocolloids by Douglas Queen. An overwhelming number of dressings and technologies is currently available, and to make effective and sensible decisions about wound management and product selection, it is vital that clinicians have a good understanding of the mode of action of and specific indications for the different products available.

International perspective

To gain an international perspective, comments from around the world will be included where appropriate. This will add an interesting, and sometimes contentious, dimension to the journal (see Steve Thomas and Geoff Sussman's comments on the hydrocolloid paper).

Case report

Finally, to develop a facility for sharing knowledge and experience, case reports will be included. These will illustrate dynamic solutions to the challenges of everyday wound management problems. In this issue, Moses Murandu and Carol Dealey from the UK, describe the use of sugar in managing pressure ulcers, and Lisa Ooi Lay Theng from Malaysia presents an honest and reflective account of how her team managed an unusual neck wound.

Providing a service for clinicians

Wounds International is a comprehensive educational resource. Our goal will be to provide an inclusive and reliable service, whose success depends on the continued contribution of those who are prepared to share their experiences and knowledge with colleagues in the field of wound care.

If you would like to contribute to a future issue of the journal, please contact Suzie Calne, the editor of Wounds International at scalne@woundsinternational.com