Abstract: The measurement of sub-bandage pressure is commonly reported as a means of comparing the possible effectiveness of compression therapies. While there remain several key challenges to the collection and interpretation of this data, a factor cited as a modifier of sub-bandage pressure is the technique by which the bandage is applied to the leg. Two elastic compression bandages were applied to an in-vitro limb model with differing numbers of layers (1 or 2) and at different application tensions (2N to 10N) using either a spiral or figure-eight application technique. Few differences were observed between the sub-bandage pressures and the shear component between bandage layers, regardless of bandage type or application technique. Sub-bandage pressures increased with the number of bandage layers applied and the bandage application tension. This exploratory study revealed what appeared to be relatively small differences between sub-bandage pressures when an elastic bandage was appli

Abstract: Diabetic foot syndrome is complex, affects up to 20% of patients with diabetes at least once in their lifetime, and is responsible for the vast majority of amputations in the United States and in Europe. Since its clinical history evolves from an initial nonulcerative phase, to an acute ulcerative phase, an eventual recurrence, and a chronic post-ulcerative phase, measurements related to such a complex condition should explore and exhaustively describe all aspects of the pathology. In the pre-ulcerative phase, evaluation and quantification of risk factors for the development of ulceration are the most important aspects. In this phase, neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease are addressed. In the ulcerative phase, measurements related to the ulcer, including size, location, involvement of deep structures, presence of ischemia, and infection, are all relevant to establish a therapeutic program and a prognosis of the pathologic condition. In the post-ulcerative phase, emphasi

Abstract: The evaluation of burn depth is mainly performed by clinical assessment. Although rapid and useful, this approach is sometimes inaccurate and subjective. In this study, the reliability of subjective clinical assessment of burn depth by clinicians is compared to the reliability of a colorimetric measurement technique. Using clinical scoring and objective assessment with a tri-stimulus colorimeter, the authors evaluated 123 patients with superficial and deep partial-thickness burns. Healing time was correlated to the clinical scoring and instrumental data on burn depth. Superficial wounds had a significantly higher luminance (L*, p < 0.05) and redness (a*, p < 0.05) when compared to deep wounds. The overall accuracy of deep burn depth estimation was significantly more accurate with the colorimeter than with clinical scoring. This study shows that an overall evaluation of partial-thickness burns with a colorimeter is more reliable than clinical evaluation by observers.

Abstract: Wound care literature emphasizes that hyperbaric oxygen is an adjunctive, not a primary, therapy for ischemic foot ulcers. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is recommended only after large vessel arterial reconstruction has been accomplished by angioplasty or bypass. The authors present a patient with nonhealing foot ulcers and proximal occlusion of all 3 infrapopliteal arteries who declined bypass surgery and was treated successfully with hyperbaric oxygen.

Abstract: The ability of a dressing to conform to the contours of a wound is important to reduce areas of noncontact where bacteria may proliferate. For antimicrobial dressings, such as those containing silver or iodine, a high degree of conformability to uneven wound surfaces may be particularly important to ensure effectiveness of the antimicrobial dressing at the wound-dressing interface. These in-vitro studies investigated conformability of 2 silver-containing wound dressings, a nanocrystalline silver-containing (NSC) dressing (Acticoat™, Smith & Nephew, London, UK) and a silver-containing Hydrofiber® (SCH) dressing (AQUACEL® Ag, ConvaTec, Skillman, NJ, USA), to human wound tissue and dried dermal membrane (simulated dry eschar) and also to the surface of indented agar plates inoculated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The SCH dressing provided excellent conformability to dermal tissue and is likely to expose all aspects of the unev