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Int Wound J 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Health Services Research and Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence and the characteristics of pressure ulcers (PU) in community-dwelling older adults in Indonesia, including specific characteristics of the PU patients and their use of formal and informal care. A cross-sectional design was used for the study, with 325 participants aged 60 years or older, randomly chosen from the general community. The overall PU prevalence and the PU prevalence excluding category 1 were 10. Read More

Scand J Caring Sci 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Nursing, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Talavera de la Reina, Spain.

Background: Pressure ulcers represent an important worldwide public health problem, which substantially decrease the quality of life of those affected. Yet, few studies to date have analysed the perceptions regarding home care for pressure ulcers.

Aims: To explore the conceptualisations regarding home care of pressure ulcers from the perspective of affected patients and their caregivers. Read More

Wound Manag Prev 2019 Feb;65(2):39-47

Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing Department, Burdur, Turkey.

Nurses should be highly knowledgeable about and have a positive attitude toward pressure ulcer (PU) prevention.

Purpose: This descriptive study was conducted among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses in 6 hospitals in Turkey to identify their PU prevention knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of barriers to care.

Methods: The study was conducted between January 1, 2017, and April 30, 2017, using supervised self-reporting, among nurses working in the ICUs of 3 education and research hospitals, 2 university hospitals, and a private hospital in Ankara, Turkey. Read More

Wound Manag Prev 2019 Feb;65(2):30-38

Nantong University, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, PR China.

Use of a hydrocolloid dressing (HCD) is generally recommended to help prevent pressure ulcers (PUs) in high-risk patients, including ulcers caused by noninvasive ventilation (NIV).

Purpose: The study was conducted to compare the effect of preventive use of HCD to other methods in the rate of facial PUs caused by NIV.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data were searched from date of index inception to August 2018 without language restrictions to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared HCD use to other NIV-related PU prevention measures. Read More

Wound Manag Prev 2019 Feb;65(2):20-28

Istanbul University, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a common problem with serious health care implications.

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess PU prevalence, incidence, clinical features, nursing care measures, and patient variables and outcomes among inpatients admitted to 13 internal medicine departments at a university hospital in Turkey between 2010 and 2014.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional, retrospective design, records of all hospitalized patients were reviewed and records from patients with a PU abstracted. Read More

Wound Manag Prev 2019 Feb;65(2):14-19

UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA.

Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers/injuries (HAPU/I) have been a major focus of research, but information about community-acquired pressure ulcer/injuries (CAPU/I) is limited.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare HAPU/I and CAPU/I in a 620-bed academic medical center in the western United States.

Methods: This descriptive study involved prospective/retrospective data collected from the National Data for Nursing Quality Indicators, including pressure ulcer stage (January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2017); the hospital's incident reporting system (January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017); electronic medical records (EMR) as needed for verification; and the hospital's pressure ulcer registry (January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2017), developed by both EMR and manual extraction. Read More

J Wound Care 2019 Jan;28(Sup1):S4-S13

Drug and Herbal Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Objective:: Objectives. To determine the prevalence and risk factors for diabetic foot infection (DFI), and to identify factors associated with delayed wound healing of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU).

Method:: The retrospective study was performed in a referral wound care clinic in Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Read More

Nurs Clin North Am 2019 Mar;54(1):127-140

Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, 461 21st Avenue South, 216 Godchaux Hall, Nashville, TN 37240, USA.

This quality improvement project used the Model for Improvement including the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle of change framework to educate pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nurses on risk factors for pediatric pressure injuries and prevention strategies, improve turning compliance for PICU patients, and implement an electronic trigger to order nutrition consultations on all patients with a Braden Q score less than 16. The quality improvement project decreased preventable patient harm to PICU patients by decreasing the pressure injury incidence rate from 8% to 3% in the 6-week time period. Read More

Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 2019 Jan 5;8(1):1-6. Epub 2019 Jan 5.

Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Medical Research Laboratory, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.

The development of in-hospital acquired pressure ulcers (PUs) is of great concern for both patients and professionals in health care. Based on the hypothesis that identification of patients who are prone to develop PU will enhance preventive measures in this group of patients, we investigated a new tool, Qscale, for in-hospital prediction of PU. A total of 383 patients were recruited from three departments. Read More

J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother 2019 Jan 31:1-5. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Pain from pressure ulcers can severely impact a patient's quality of life. Evidence-based treatment of ulcer-related pain typically relies on systemic opioids with limiting side effects. Literature exists on the use of topical ketamine for neuropathic pain, but not for tissue injury in general and for decubitus ulcer pain specifically. Read More

Worldviews Evid Based Nurs 2019 Feb 30;16(1):29-35. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.

Background: In previous studies about performance or factors affecting pressure ulcer (PU) care, old tools with nonupdated contents about the prevention and intervention of PU have been mainly used. Thus, there is little known how well evidence-based PU care is performed and what its' influencing factors are recently.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the PU care performance, based on evidence-based practice guidelines, and identify factors affecting it while considering nurses' individual and institutional characteristics. Read More

Int Wound J 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Israel.

Patients who are immobile endure prolonged bodyweight-related compressive, tensional and shear loads at their body-support contact areas that over time may lead to the onset of pressure ulcers (PUs). Approximately, one-third of the common sacral PUs are severe and classified as category 3 or 4. If a PU has occurred, off-loading is the basic, commonly accepted clinical intervention; however, in many situations, complete off-loading of sacral PUs is not possible. Read More

Int Wound J 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.

Our objective was to estimate the US national cost burden of hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) using economic simulation methods. We created a Markov simulation to estimate costs for staged pressure injuries acquired during hospitalisation from the hospital perspective. The model analysed outcomes of hospitalised adults with acute illness in 1-day cycles until all patients were terminated at the point of discharge or death. Read More

Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019 Feb 28;19(2):135-140. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Department of Gerontological Nursing/Wound Care Management, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Aim: Temporal muscle wasting is subjectively evaluated during nutritional assessment of protein-energy malnutrition. However, a quantitative evaluation method has not been established. The aim was to verify the validity and reliability of temporal muscle thickness measurement in comparison with established indicators of nutritional status, such as body mass index. Read More

Trials 2019 Jan 24;20(1):77. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Jonas Lies vei 71, 5053, Bergen, Norway.

Background: Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) are prone to pressure ulcers (PUs) because of the loss of sensorimotor function involved as well as increased skin moisture. Treatment of PU after SCI is complicated, involving different specialties and with need for long-lasting follow-up. This study should identify risk factors for PU after SCI, and find an effective and less time-consuming treatment for the condition among different available methods for follow-up. Read More

Ulster Med J 2019 Jan 22;88(1):17-20. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Department of Respiratory Medicine & Physiology, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham, B9 5SS, UK.

Background: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is a valuable treatment in the management of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure. NIV is not without risks. One such adverse effect is the development of pressure ulcers over the nasal bridge which have an incidence of up to 20% of patients requiring NIV in this setting. Read More

Int Wound J 2019 Jan 22. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Department of Vascular Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

The prevalence of chronic wounds in the Helsinki metropolitan area in 2008 was investigated. Thereafter, a specialised wound care team was founded as part of the City of Helsinki Health Services, aiming for early diagnoses of chronic wounds. In the current study, we have repeated the prevalence study to analyse the changes in the prevalence of chronic wounds. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118.

Prevention has been a primary goal of pressure ulcer research. Despite such efforts, pressure ulcers remain common in hospitals and the community. Moreover, pressure ulcers often become chronic wounds that are difficult to treat and tend to recur after healing. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118.

Though preventable in the vast majority of cases, pressure ulcers continue to pose a major burden to the individual and society, affecting up to 3 million adults annually in the United States alone. Despite increased national attention over the past 20 years, the prevalence of pressure ulcers has largely remained unchanged, while associated costs of care continue to increase. Dermatologists can play a significant role in pressure ulcer prevention by becoming aware of at-risk populations and implementing suitable preventive strategies. Read More

Wound Repair Regen 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York.

The effect of diabetes on postoperative outcomes following surgical management of pressure ulcers is poorly defined despite evidence showing that patients with diabetes are at increased risk for developing pressure ulcers, as well as postoperative wound complications including delayed healing and infection. This study aimed to examine the impact of diabetes on postoperative outcomes following surgical management of pressure ulcers using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database. In this retrospective analysis all CPT codes with ICD-9 diagnoses of pressure ulcers were reviewed. Read More

J Tissue Viability 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Curtin University, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Australia; LaTrobe University, Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Australia; Australian National University, ANU Medical School, Academic Unit of General Practice, Australia.

Aim: The European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, the Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance, and the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel are updating the 'Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: Clinical Practice Guideline' (CPG) in 2019. The aim of this contribution is to summarize and to discuss the guideline development protocol for the 2019 update.

Methods: A guideline governance group determines and monitors all steps of the CPG development. Read More

Adv Skin Wound Care 2019 Feb;32(2):81-84

Peter G. Wirsing, MD, is Head of the Wound Center, Ostalb-Klinikum Aalen, Germany. Maria Konstantakaki is a researcher and Konstantinos A. Poulas, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Greece. The authors have disclosed no financial relationships related to this article. Submitted March 31, 2018; accepted in revised form June 22, 2018.

Martorell's ulcers are hard-to-heal leg ulcers typically accompanied by a significant elevation of blood pressure and severe pain. This case study examines the use of an innovative technology, wireless microcurrent stimulation, for the healing of a Martorell's ulcer. Using wireless microcurrent stimulation, study authors managed to reduce the size of a large Martorell's ulcer by 90% within 8 weeks. Read More

Adv Skin Wound Care 2019 Feb;32(2):70-76

At the Wake Forest Baptist Medical University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Claire Sanger Dillingham, DO, is Associate Professor, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department; and Joseph Jorizzo, MD, is Professor, Dermatology Department. The authors have disclosed no financial relationships related to this article. Submitted March 21, 2018; accepted in revised form June 12, 2018.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare disease that presents as painful ulcerations with inflammation and undermining at the borders. The ulcers can occur anywhere on the body but are most commonly seen on the lower extremities. The etiology of PG is unknown, and there are no definitive diagnostic criteria; PG is a diagnosis of exclusion, which can present serious delays in treatment. Read More

Adv Skin Wound Care 2019 Feb;32(2):53

Elizabeth A. Ayello, PhD, RN, CWON, ETN, MAPWCA, FAAN, is the co-Editor-in-Chief of Advances in Skin & Wound Care; Faculty, Excelsior College School of Nursing, Albany, New York; and President, World Council of Enterostomal Therapists, President, Ayello Harris & Associates, Inc, Copake, New York, President (1999) National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. R. Gary Sibbald, MD, DSc (Hons), MEd, BSc, FRCPC (Med Derm), FAAD, MAPWCA, JM, is the co-Editor-in-Chief of Advances in Skin & Wound Care; Professor, Medicine and Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Director, International Interprofessional Wound Care Course & Masters of Science in Community Health (Prevention & Wound Care), Dalla Lana Faculty of Public Health, University of Toronto; and President (2008-2012), World Union of Wound Healing Societies.

Cureus 2018 Oct 27;10(10):e3504. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Plastic Surgery, Reading Hospital, Wyomissing, USA.

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and venous leg ulcers (VLUs) have major financial implications for patients and healthcare professionals. VLUs, in particular, require significant care, can be slow to heal, and have a high rate of recurrence. These factors combine to make VLUs a major burden on the healthcare system. Read More

J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs 2019 Jan/Feb;46(1):51-54

Sherry Lynn Werth, MSN, RN, CWOCN, Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, Michigan. Rachel Justice, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC, CMSRN, Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, Michigan.

Moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) is characterized by inflammation of the skin with or without erosion of the skin caused by prolonged exposure to various sources of moisture including urine or stool, perspiration, wound exudate, or mucus. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine the prevalence of MASD at a teaching hospital in the Midwestern United States. Data were collected quarterly over a period of 12 months concurrently with the quarterly Pressure Ulcer Prevalence Survey (PUPS). Read More

Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 2018 Dec 8;7(12):419-426. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Independent Nurse Researcher, for Wound Care in Rural Areas of Tropical Developing Countries, and Clinical Research & Education Liaison, Charity Liaison for Ferris Mfg. Corp., Austin, Texas.

Wound management recommendations usually group dressings by base substrate material or reimbursement codes, even when functional differences are vast (., honey-containing alginates, super-absorbent hydrogels). Polymeric membrane dressings (PMDs) diverge dramatically from conventional foam dressings in functional attributes, indications, and patient results, providing an opportunity to demonstrate the evidence for categorizing dressings based upon functional differences. Read More

J Am Coll Clin Wound Spec 2017 19;9(1-3):24-31.e1. Epub 2018 Jun 19.

University of California, Irvine, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Burns and Surgical Critical Care, Orange, CA, USA.

Background: In a systematic review, the level of spinal cord injury (SCI) was not associated with risk for pressure ulcer (PU). We hypothesized that in the acute trauma population, upper-SCI (cervical/thoracic) has greater risk for PU when compared to lower-SCI (lumbar/sacral). We additionally sought to identify risk factors for development of PUs in trauma. Read More

J Am Coll Clin Wound Spec 2017 9;9(1-3):14-18. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Introduction: Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) affects approximately 8 million patients in the United States. We investigate the relationship of Skin Perfusion Pressure (SPP) and wound closure time in lower extremity wounds.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 1125 lower extremity wounds in 998 patients between June 2006 and October 2014 in our wound clinic. Read More

J Foot Ankle Surg 2018 Dec 21. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Attending Podiatric Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Presence Saint Joseph Hospital, Chicago, IL.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate use of a distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap in high-risk patients with diabetes and peripheral vascular disease for limb salvage of nonhealing heel ulcerations. Seventeen patients were referred for a below-knee amputation because of nonhealing heel ulcerations and peripheral vascular disease. As a last resort, 17 distally based peroneus brevis muscle flaps were elevated in 17 patients with full-thickness heel ulcerations measuring an average defect size of 14. Read More

J Law Med 2018 12;26(2):494-509

School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW, Sydney.

The prevention of elder abuse is a health priority around the globe. The Australian Law Reform Commission's 2017 report on Australian residential aged care facilities found that neglect may constitute elder abuse and that painful pressure ulcers (PUs) fall into this category. The purpose of this article is to examine deaths from PUs in elders 65 years and older. Read More

Adv Skin Wound Care 2019 Jan;32(1)

R. Gary Sibbald, MD, DSc (Hons), MEd, BSc, FRCPC (Med Derm), FAAD, MAPWCA, JM, is the co-Editor-in-Chief of Advances in Skin & Wound Care; Professor, Medicine and Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Director, International Interprofessional Wound Care Course & Masters of Science in Community Health (Prevention & Wound Care), Dalla Lana Faculty of Public Health, University of Toronto; and President (2008-2012), World Union of Wound Healing Societies. Elizabeth A. Ayello, PhD, RN, CWON, ETN, MAPWCA, FAAN, is the co-Editor-in-Chief of Advances in Skin & Wound Care; Faculty, Excelsior College School of Nursing, Albany, New York; President, World Council of Enterostomal Therapists, President, Ayello Harris & Associates, Inc, Copake, New York; and President (1999), National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel.

Rev Esc Enferm USP 2018 Dec 20;52:e03415. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Universidade Federal do Piauí, Departamento de Enfermagem, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Teresina, PI, Brazil.

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of pressure injuries, diabetic and vasculogenic ulcers and associated factors in older adults attended in primary care.

Method: A cross-sectional, analytical study with older adults attended in the Family Health Strategy in a Brazilian municipality. Data collection was performed from January to March 2016 using interviews and evaluations of injuries. Read More

J Wound Care 2018 Dec;27(12):837-842

Assistant Professor-Senior Scale, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.

Objective:: Low-level laser therapy (also known as photobiomodulation therapy, PBMT) promotes accelerated healing of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), thereby preventing the risk of future complications and amputation. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of PBMT, with structured, graded mobilisation and foot care, on DFU healing dynamics.

Method:: Patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy and presenting with a chronic neuroischaemic DFU, were treated with PBMT using scanning and non-contact probe methods. Read More

J Wound Care 2018 Dec;27(12):862-875

Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, 1100 Nudgee Road, Banyo, QLD, Australia 4014. Nursing Research and Practice Development Centre, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Rd, Chermside, QLD, Australia 4032. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Objective:: Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (PU) continue to occur despite an ongoing focus on prevention. The aim of this review was to identify and evaluate primary research which links pressure ulcer risk assessment with prescription and implementation of preventative interventions for hospitalised adults.

Method:: A systematic review of the databases EBSCO CINAHL Complete, EBSCO MEDLINE Complete, Scopus and Web of Science was undertaken, using search terms related to pressure ulcers, hospital-acquired, risk, planning, implementation, prevention and outcome. Read More

J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs 2019 Jan/Feb;46(1):65-68

Deanna E. Johnson, MA, APRN, NNP-BC, CWON, Children's Hospital and Clinics, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Background: Soft tissue injuries recognized at birth are a common occurrence and well described in the medical literature. Despite this, there has been no discussion of congenital pressure injuries. In this Clinical Challenges article, I describe 3 cases in which congenital skin injuries have occurred, all of which meet the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel definition for a pressure injury and are demonstrably not the result of other etiologies. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018 12 6;12:CD009362. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland, D2.

Background: Pressure ulcers, localised injuries to the skin or underlying tissue, or both, occur when people cannot reposition themselves to relieve pressure on bony prominences. These wounds are difficult to heal, painful, expensive to manage and have a negative impact on quality of life. Prevention strategies include nutritional support and pressure redistribution. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018 12 9;12:CD012132. Epub 2018 Dec 9.

School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 121 St. Stephens Green, Dublin, Ireland, 2.

Background: Pressure ulcers, which are a localised injury to the skin, or underlying tissue, or both, occur when people are unable to reposition themselves to relieve pressure on bony prominences. Pressure ulcers are often difficult to heal, painful, expensive to manage and have a negative impact on quality of life. While individual patient safety and quality care stem largely from direct healthcare practitioner-patient interactions, each practitioner-patient wound-care contact may be constrained or enhanced by healthcare organisation of services. Read More

Br J Community Nurs 2018 Dec;23(Sup12):S6-S12

Professor and Director for the Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection prevention, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

Chronic wounds are associated with a significant patient, healthcare and financial burden and can have extensive implications for healthcare. Age is a significant risk factor for developing chronic wounds, due to physical changes in skin integrity and several age-related complex comorbidities, including poor nutrition and mobility. Pressure ulcers (PU) are a common type of chronic wound that can have a substantial impact on health-related quality of life and patient outcomes. Read More

Int Wound J 2018 Dec 2. Epub 2018 Dec 2.

Department of Surgery, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York, New York, New York.

It has been shown that pressure ulcer formation in critically ill paediatric patients increases morbidity and mortality. We sought to identify factors associated with pressure ulcer formation in paediatric patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). From December 2014 to 2015, we identified patients at our institution who developed a pressure ulcer to create two cohorts: ulcer and no ulcer. Read More

J Tissue Viability 2018 Nov 22. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Institute for Frontier Science Initiative, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan. Electronic address:

Aim: In operating rooms, the occurrence of pressure ulcers caused by being in the prone position is the highest among that of pressure ulcers caused by being in other surgical positions. Thus, we investigated effects of hardness and shape of urethane foam mattresses for preventing pressure ulcers during surgery performed with patients in the prone position. We aimed to elucidate how mattresses of variable hardness and shapes affect compression and displacement of the skin and soft tissues with external force in the prone position. Read More

J Tissue Viability 2018 Nov 27. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Cook Biotech Incorporated, 1425 Innovation Place, West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA. Electronic address:

Aim: The purpose of the study was to evaluate clinical safety and effectiveness of Oasis Wound Matrix as a treatment for full-thickness pressure ulcers and compare it to Standard Care.

Methods: A total of 130 adults with Stage III or Stage IV pressure ulcers were randomly assigned, received either multiple topical treatments of SIS plus standard care (n = 67), or standard care alone (n = 63), and were subsequently evaluated. Ulcer size was determined at enrollment and weekly throughout treatment. Read More

Int Wound J 2019 Feb 20;16(1):266-274. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Revera, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Chronic non-healing wounds are a burden in the Long-Term Care (LTC) sector, increasing costs, morbidity, and mortality and causing pain and suffering. The objective of this LTC Innovation pilot was to test the value of a promising new neuromuscular stimulation device in elevating the experience and satisfaction of the residents, engaging and empowering the nursing staff, and improving healing and/or reducing costs. Small, wireless, and worn at the knee, this muscle pump activator is self-contained, wearable, and battery-powered to increase lower-leg blood circulation (up to 60% of that achieved by walking). Read More

SAGE Open Med 2018 14;6:2050312118812220. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Gerontological Nursing/Wound Care Management, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Shortening the duration of healing based on an accurate assessment is important in pressure ulcer management. This study focused on the peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase activity detected by wound blotting, a non-invasive method of collecting wound exudate, to establish a non-invasive and point-of-care assessment method for analyzing the histopathology of wounds using an animal model.

Methods: Wounds were created on the dorsal skin of rats. Read More

IEEE Pulse 2018 Nov-Dec;9(6):28-31

With an aging population, the incidence and prevalence of wound problems is on the rise. Bedsores (also known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers) are painful, take months to heal, and, for many patients, never do, leading to other health problems. The condition has become so acute that treating bedsores is now a significant burden on the healthcare system. Read More

Int Wound J 2019 Feb 15;16(1):226-232. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Institute of Nursing Science, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

This cross-sectional, multicentre study was conducted in hospitals to investigate nutritional interventions conducted in patients aged 70 years or older with (risk of) pressure injuries. A total of 1412 patients from 33 hospitals with 208 wards participated in the study. A standardised questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and data on care dependency, malnutrition risk, risk for/prevalence of pressure injuries, and nutritional interventions. Read More

Int Wound J 2018 Nov 9. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Skin Integrity Research Group (SKINT), University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

The aim of this study was to identify independent risk factors for pressure ulcer (PU) development in a high-risk nursing home population receiving evidence-based PU prevention. This study was part of a randomised controlled trial examining the (cost-)effectiveness of static air support surfaces compared with alternating pressure air mattresses. The sample consisted of 308 residents at a high risk of PU development (presence of non-blanchable erythema, Braden score ≤ 12 or Braden subscale "mobility" ≤ 2). Read More

Ostomy Wound Manage 2018 Nov;64(11):22-28

Department of Pediatrics, Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, New Hyde Park, NY; and Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY.

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (PIs) present a significant challenge to pediatric providers.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement program was to develop and implement a debrief protocol and to evaluate compliance with and the implementation of a comprehensive prevention bundle to decrease the overall incidence and severity of pediatric pressure ulcers (PUs)/PIs in a free-standing children's hospital.

Methods: As a member of the Children's Hospitals Solution for Patients Safety national network, a PU Hospital Acquired Conditions (HAC) team was created in 2013, followed by the development and implementation of a PU occurrence debrief tool and discussion guide and implementation of multiple staff educational strategies and a comprehensive prevention bundle. Read More

J Wound Care 2018 Nov;27(11):707-715

Wound Management Innovation Cooperative Research Centre, Healthy Ageing Node, Flinders at Tonsley, Clovelly Park, Australia.

Objective:: To provide a synthesis of the best available, recent primary or secondary research evidence on early preventative activities taken to increase skin health, and reduce the incidence of facility-acquired skin tears and pressure ulcers (PUs) in community, residential and health-care institutions.

Method:: An integrative review focusing on a 10-year period, 2007-2017. A literature search of health databases was carried out, as well as a search of grey literature in relevant skin, wound care and nursing association journals. Read More

J Wound Care 2018 Nov;27(11):744-753

Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Padova University-Hospital, Italy.

Objective:: Fluorescence biomodulation (FB), a form of photobiomodulation (PBM) that is also known as low energy level light (LELL), has become an increasingly used clinical tool to induce wound healing in wounds that remain recalcitrant to treatment. In a real-life clinical setting, the aim of the EUREKA (EvalUation of Real-lifE use of Klox biophotonic system in chronic wound mAnagement) study was to confirm the efficacy and safety of LumiHeal, a system based on FB, in the treatment of chronic wounds such as venous leg ulcers (VLUs), diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and pressure ulcers (PUs). The effects of this FB system on the modulation of wound healing in chronic ulcers through FB induction were previously examined in an interim analysis of this study. Read More