Press Release
Best in Class: Scottsdale Wound Management Guide
Comprehensive pocket handbook offers differential diagnosis and treatment options at your fingertips
Malvern, PA (June 8, 2009) – Proper wound care management has become one of the top concerns for many clinicians across various medical specialties. Treatment is specific to the wound type, the patient and the long-term care plan and requires ongoing assessment. Read More
2009 WOUNDS Article Index
Evidence Corner
Alleviating Venous Ulcer Pain
Dear Readers:
Pain is one of the most dreaded and least understood complications of chronic and acute wounds. Through the years research has confirmed that that moisture-retentive topical primary wound dressings can alleviate pain compared to gauze dressings in chronic venous1 or pressure2 ulcers and in acute burns3 surgical excisions4 or traumatic wounds.5 A recent Cochrane review concluded that a topical eutectic mixture (at lowest possible temperature of solidification) of 2.5% each of the two local anesthet
Chronic Wounds and Delayed Healing Risk
Dear Readers:
Forewarned is forearmed. Knowing a chronic wound is at risk of being delayed or nonhealing helps wound care providers improve healing outcomes.1 Knowing and helping patients address risk factors for delayed or nonhealing wounds can also help define the limits of patient risk, patient, caregiver, and provider responsibility, and legal liability.
Below are some surprising and some familiar risk factors for delayed and nonhealing wounds. If you recognize any of these risk factors in a patient, consider what you might do to optimize
Surgery Without a Scalpel?
Dear Readers:
Complications can increase the clinical quality of life and economic burden of patient surgery. Causes may originate from patient, surgeon, technique and/or environmental variables associated with pre-, intra-, and/or post-operative management. Gradually, research is clarifying the effects and interactions of all these variables to improve outcomes for patients undergoing surgery. As new techniques emerge, they are tested in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for evidence of efficacy and safety. This Evidence Corner reviews two such RCTs that evaluate safety and efficacy of tw
Moist Wound Healing With Limited Resources
Dear Readers:
How would you dress a wound if you were in a setting without “modern” wound care? A MEDLINE search found evidence of moist wound healing (MWH) alternatives from countries with limited resources that reduce pain, healing time, or costs of care when compared to gauze or other alternatives. Though more sufficient randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed, this evidence merits consideration. Moist wound healing alternatives explored in controlled clinical studies include banana leaves,1 boiled potato peels,1 honey,2 pl
Solving the Burn Depth Puzzle
Dear Readers:
Knowing burn wound depth helps determine therapy and predicts healing time and potential for complications such as infection or excessive scarring. Experienced burn surgeons usually determine burn depth clinically with 60%–75% accuracy.1 Burn depth assessment methods include histological biopsy evaluation, thermography, vital dye techniques, video angiography, video microscopy, and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Only LDF, a noninvasive measure of microvascular perfusion, has sufficient evidence of accuracy in predicting burn wound outcomes to
Documentation: The Crystal Ball of Wound Care
Dear Readers:
The global epidemic of type 2 diabetes can be managed if we recognize and alleviate its causes as early as possible.1 A diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) need not be a sentence to amputation and early death with pre-emptive evaluation and effective care. Early detection of sensory loss, bone and soft tissue injury, impending infection,2 and consistent 24/7 off-loading3 are important steps toward healing and maintaining a healthy diabetic foot. The 80%–90% healing in 12 weeks reported for non-infected, non-ischemic Wagner Grade 1 and 2 foot ulcers t
Support Surfaces To Prevent Pressure Ulcers
Dear Readers:
One of the best ways to manage pressure ulcers (PU) across the continuum of care is to prevent them. Interventions that work include repositioning at least every 4 hours, when combined with an appropriate pressure redistribution surface,1 optimizing support surfaces and nutritional status, and moisturizing at-risk skin sites.2 Pressure redistribution is integral to any approach for preventing PU development. In an effort to clarify which support surfaces are effective, Cochrane reviews3,4 have reported “high-specification
Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC)
Dear Readers:
Within 5 years after experiencing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), 1 in 3 individuals will develop swelling and skin changes associated with post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS).1 Graduated, high-compression bandages and stockings are effective at healing venous leg ulcers, preventing progression of PTS and managing lymphedema,2 but are most effective in ambulatory individuals. How much does walking help, and could increased calf muscle activity enhance the benefits of recognized compression therapies?
Intermittent pneu
Where Have All the Enzymes Gone?
Efficacy of Collagenase or Papain-Urea
Reference: Ramundo J, Gray M. Enzymatic wound debridement. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2008;35(3):273–280.
Rationale: Debriding necrotic tissue is an important step in wound care. Indications and efficacy are not clearly established for the major methods used. Scant evidence guides the selection of safe, effective, debriding modalities for chronic wounds.
Objective: Identify and review evidence relating to use of collagenase or papain-urea enzymatic
Preventing Surgical Site Infections
Dear Readers:
What have we learned about preventing surgical site infection since 1867 when Lister first prevented surgical site suppuration and septicemia by using carbolic acid to wash wounds, soak dressings, and spray operating room air? In an experiment that laid the foundation for modern surgery,1 9 of Lister’s 11 compound fracture patients healed without amputation or mortality typical of that era. Do we know today which of Lister’s precautions was effective? Carbolic acid was soon replaced with less irritating aseptic technique. More recently, gentle
WOUNDS Monthly Poll
Anytown, California
WOUNDS News Wire
- Thursday, September 2, 2010 - 14:24
- Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 14:56
- Wednesday, August 11, 2010 - 16:56
Education
ON-DEMAND WEBCAST - How Advanced Wound Dressing Technology Helps Progress Chronic Wound Healing
Non-Accredited
Taking the Complexity Out of Diabetic Foot Management - Complimentary On-Demand Webcast
Non-Accredited
Simple Steps in Wound Healing to Achieve Success for Your Patients and Practice - Complimentary On-Demand Webcast
Non-Accredited
CLINICAL EVENTS CALENDAR
- Wound Clinic Business MeetingStart Date:October 8, 2010End Date:October 8, 2010
Cincinnati, OH
- SAWC/WHS Spring 2011
- SAWC FallStart Date:September 23, 2010End Date:September 25, 2010
Anaheim Convention Center
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