Why is high-pressure irrigation avoided during field wound cleaning?

• A. High-pressure irrigation can cause tissue damage and push contaminants deeper
• B. It helps infection control
• C. It takes less time
• D. It's less effective than leaving wound dirty

Answer: (A)

Wound cleaning aims to remove debris and bacteria while preserving healthy tissue. A strong high-pressure jet can damage tissue at the wound edge and within the wound bed, disrupting healing surfaces. It can also push contaminants deeper into tissue planes, spreading infection rather than getting rid of it. In field settings, the priority is to flush gently with sterile saline using low-pressure flow, directing rinse from clean toward dirty areas to minimize tissue trauma. The idea that high-pressure irrigation improves infection control or saves time is incorrect, and leaving the wound dirty would worsen infection risk.