Curativo vs. penso vs. atadura vs. ligadura vs. bandagem
While all these terms relate to treating wounds or injuries, the main differences lie in regional usage (Brazil vs. Portugal) and the specific type of material used. Generally, curativo and penso refer to the covering placed directly on a wound, while atadura and ligadura refer to the long strips used to wrap or bind an area.
Curativo
A2This is the most common term in Brazilian Portuguese for a general medical dressing. It refers to the entire hygiene process of cleaning a wound and covering it, or the material itself used to cover the injury (like a Band-Aid or gauze with tape).
A enfermeira trocou o curativo do paciente esta manhã.
(The nurse changed the patient's dressing this morning.)
Você tem um curativo para este corte no meu dedo?
(Do you have a band-aid for this cut on my finger?)
É importante manter o curativo limpo e seco.
(It is important to keep the dressing clean and dry.)
Penso
A2This is the standard term in European Portuguese, equivalent to the Brazilian curativo. It refers to the dressing applied to a wound to protect it. A penso rápido is the specific term for a small adhesive bandage (plaster/Band-Aid).
Tenho de ir ao posto médico mudar o penso.
(I have to go to the medical center to change the dressing.)
Coloca um penso rápido nessa ferida para não infetar.
(Put a plaster on that wound so it doesn't get infected.)
O penso estava muito apertado e cortou a circulação.
(The dressing was too tight and cut off circulation.)
Atadura
B1Used primarily in Brazilian Portuguese, this refers specifically to a bandage roll (often made of crepe or gauze). It is a long strip of fabric used to wrap around a limb to immobilize it or to hold a dressing in place.
O médico enrolou uma atadura no meu tornozelo torcido.
(The doctor wrapped a bandage around my sprained ankle.)
Compre duas caixas de atadura de crepe na farmácia.
(Buy two boxes of crepe bandage at the pharmacy.)
A atadura serve para fixar o curativo na pele.
(The bandage is serves to fix the dressing to the skin.)
Ligadura
B1This is the European Portuguese equivalent of atadura. It refers to a strip of woven material used to bind up a wound or injury. While in Brazil ligadura is a technical term for tying off blood vessels, in Portugal it is the common word for a wrapping bandage.
Fizeram-me uma ligadura de compressão na perna.
(They applied a compression bandage to my leg.)
A ligadura elástica ajuda a reduzir o inchaço.
(The elastic bandage helps reduce swelling.)
Ele retirou a ligadura para ver como estava o joelho.
(He removed the bandage to see how his knee was doing.)
Bandagem
B2This term is used in both variants but is often more technical or specific. It usually refers to the act or technique of bandaging (functional bandaging), often used in sports medicine (like taping) or immobilization, rather than just the roll of cloth itself.
O fisioterapeuta fez uma bandagem funcional no ombro do atleta.
(The physical therapist applied a functional taping to the athlete's shoulder.)
Esta bandagem deve ser trocada a cada dois dias.
(This bandage must be changed every two days.)
A bandagem rígida imobiliza a articulação completamente.
(The rigid bandaging completely immobilizes the joint.)
Summary
To choose the right word, consider the region and the function. If you are covering an open wound, use curativo in Brazil and penso in Portugal. If you are wrapping a sprain or securing a dressing with a roll of fabric, use atadura in Brazil and ligadura in Portugal. Use bandagem generally for technical or sports-related wrapping in both regions.