Effects of a normothermic dressing on pressure ulcer healing. Adv Skin Wound Care 2000;13(2):69-74
Date
11/15/2000Pubmed ID
11074989Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of radiant heat applied through a semiocclusive dressing on periwound skin temperature and wound healing.
DESIGN: Before-after trial.
SETTING: Spinal cord injury and geriatric units of a VA medical center.
PATIENTS: Twenty inpatients with 21 Stage III and IV pressure ulcers.
INTERVENTIONS: A semiocclusive, heated dressing was applied to 15 Stage III and IV pressure ulcers for 4.5 hours, Monday through Friday, for 4 consecutive weeks. The dressing emitted heat at 38.0 degrees C for 2 60-minute periods daily. At all other times, the wounds received only standard wound care. Six wounds in a separate control group received only standard wound care during the same 4-week period.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Periwound skin temperature within and adjacent to the dressing and measurements of wound surface area.
MAIN RESULTS: Mean skin temperatures inside and outside the heated dressing increased by 0.97 degree C and 1.08 degrees C (P < .05), respectively, from baseline values. Wounds treated with standard care plus the heated dressing underwent a statistically significant reduction in mean surface area of 60.73%. Wounds in the control group underwent a statistically insignificant reduction in mean surface area of 19.24%.
CONCLUSION: Wounds treated with a radiant heat dressing healed significantly faster than wounds that received only standard care. There were no adverse effects from the radiant heat dressing.
Author List
Kloth LC, Berman JE, Dumit-Minkel S, Sutton CH, Papanek PE, Wurzel JAuthor
Paula Papanek PhD, MPT, LAT, FACSM Associate Professor & Director of Exercise Science in the Exercise Science & Physical Therapy department at Marquette UniversityMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAged
Aged, 80 and over
Chronic Disease
Clinical Nursing Research
Hot Temperature
Humans
Middle Aged
Occlusive Dressings
Pressure Ulcer
Severity of Illness Index
Skin Temperature
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Wound Healing