Current Issue

A Novel Technique of Vacuum-assisted Wound Closure That Functions as a Delayed Primary Closure

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:52:09 -0400

Contaminated midline abdominal wounds are often left open and allowed to close by secondary intention to prevent surgical site infections. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) devices have been shown to decrease time of healing by secondary intention when compared to the prior standard of moist dressings.¹ A modification of NPWT that utilizes the unique characteristics of the NPWT system to achieve a delayed primary closure while preventing surgical site infections by continuously draining the wound effluent is presented.

Materials and Methods
The

Topical Misoprostol and Wound Healing in Rats

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:52:09 -0400

Disclosure: Funds for this study were provided by a grant from the IOER Research and Grant Fund #3122 at Des Moines University.

Cutaneous ulceration is a common clinical problem encountered by nearly all disciplines and specialties in medicine. These ulcerations are commonly found among patients that have diabetes, spinal cord injury, stroke, myelodysplasia, or peripheral neuropathy.¹ A myriad of treatments exists; however, none routinely utilize the healing properties of prostaglandins.
This preliminary s

Streamlining the Management of Patients With Problematic Wounds: Must a Multidisciplinary Team Formulate All Patient Manageme

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:52:09 -0400

Background. The Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) guidelines promote the comprehensive, interdisciplinary management of patients with chronic wounds by multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) comprised of designated specialists.¹ Since these patients are known to have a high incidence of multiple medical problems, comorbidity factors that require input from many specialties for wound prevention (both effective and safe wound treatment), this approach seems to be logical.² Conversely, since problem wounds should be promptly treated,management

Mycobacterium Abscessus Infection of a Puncture Wound of the Hand

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:52:09 -0400

An elderly patient with a traumatic, nonhealing wound underwent surgical debridement of the affected area. Operative cultures grew Mycobacterium species.

Case Report
A 90-year-old woman suffered a puncture wound to the dorsum on her left hand while using scissors that she owned for the past 70 years. Her primary care physician initially treated the wound with povidone-iodine soaks and Xeroform^™ gauze dressings (Tyco Healthcare/Kendall, Mansfield, Mass). Her wound failed to heal with this regimen, and she was referred for evaluation and

Historical Wound Healing with Frankincense and Myrrh

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:52:09 -0400

Dear Readers,

The Christmas season is rapidly approaching. The hustle and bustle of shopping for just the right gift for that special person or persons in our lives takes precedence over most other things. This brings to mind the first Christmas gifts the Magi brought to the baby Jesus as recorded in Matthew 2:11,“On coming to the house, they saw the Child with his mother, Mary, they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, and incense (frankincense), and of myrrh.” What does this have to do with woun

Wound Healing

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:52:09 -0400

Wound Healing is a valuable, scientifically rigorous, and thorough text that belongs in the library of every wound care practitioner. Dr. Anna Falabella and Dr. Robert Kirsner are internationally recognized physicians in the field of dermatology and wound healing. Their dual specialties of dermatology and wound care combined with their extensive university research and clinical experience offer a perspective of wound pathophysiology, wound evaluation, and therapy that is evidence-based and uniquely helpful.

This comprehensive text incorporates more than 80 well-known authors

December 2007

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:52:09 -0400

SMITH & NEPHEW ENTERS NPWT RENTAL MARKET
Smith & Nephew (London, UK) in collaboration with Universal Hospital Services Inc (Edina, Minn) reached an agreement with to bring their negative pressure wound therapy products to the US rental market.
The distribution agreement covers Smith & Nephew’s EZCARE^™and V1STA^™ product systems and focuses on the US Acute Care market. Universal Hospital Services Inc will support Smith & Nephew’s clinical platform in providing comprehensive wound rentals, logistics,

December 2007

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:52:09 -0400

Avagard™ Foam Antiseptic Improves Hand Hygiene
3M Health Care (St. Paul, Minn) launched Avagard™ Foam Instant Hand Antiseptic with moisturizers.
The foam antiseptic contains a blend of 5 emollients designed to moisturize and condition hands whileit disinfects. The product dries quickly and spreads easily while avoiding aerosol can disposal costs.
Visit http://www.3m.com for more information.

Smith & Nephew Introduces BIOSTEP™ Collagen Matrix Dressings

Pressure-Sensing Devices for Assessment of Soft Tissue Loading Under Bony Prominences: Technological Concepts and Clinical U

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:52:09 -0400

Disclosure: This work was supported by grant no. 6418-6 from the Chief Scientist’s Office of the Ministry of Health, Israel.

Pressure-related chronic wounds, such as diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers and pressure ulcers, are an important health concern that affect millions of patients and costs billions annually.¹ Studies conducted at multiple centers in the United States indicate that ulcers in the feet of patients with diabetic neuropathy account for $150 million (US) of the direct annual costs of type 2 diabetes. Deep tissue damage requirin

Nutrition in the Severely Burned Patient

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:52:09 -0400

Dear Readers:

Along with careful diagnosis, alleviating causes of tissue damage, such as pressure, impaired circulation or infection and providing an optimal healing environment, nutrition plays a key role in wound care.^1,2 The role of nutritional supplements becomes increasingly urgent in healing patients with more invasive injuries or conditions that deplete body stores of important nutrients. The articles presented in this Evidence Corner teach us how nutritional supplements support immunologic and healing functions in patients with major burns,

Physiology and Management of Bladder and Bowel Continence following Spinal Cord Injury

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:52:09 -0400

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is among the most devastating healthcare issues. It affects individuals and their families psychologically, physically, economically, and socially. The injury often results in complete loss of control of genitourinary and gastrointestinal function as well as loss of motor function or paralysis of the extremities. These impairments can have a profound effect on the person’s ability to perform common tasks and activities of daily living. Patients with incontinence suffer from anxiety, depression, social isolation, and loss of self-esteem.¹ Expe