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Case Study
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Partial thickness traumatic wounds: improved patient outcomes through managment with soft silicone foam dressing Amy Dunbar, RN, MSN, CWOCN, Moses Cone Hospital, Greensboro, NC Moses Cone Hospital is a Level II trauma center located in the Southeastern United States. Patients with partial thickness traumatic wounds or "road rash" were frequently remaining in the hospital five to seven days longer due to painful dressing changes requiring intravenous pain medication. Inconsistent wound care was provided because of the pain associated with dressing changes. Management of road rash icluded one of the following topical dressings: semiocclusive dressings, normal saline, or silvadene cream with dressing changes two or three times per day. Patients consistently reported pain at eight or greater with each dressing change(on a scale of 1-10). We discovered soft silicone foam dressings as an alternative to our standard topical wound care. Soft silicone foam dressings were trialed on three trauma patients to determine if pain would be reduced, exudate managed, and hospital length of stay shortened for this patient population. The soft silicone foam dressing were initiated on admission or at the first dressing change. Dressing changes were performed daily and as needed. Patients with soft silicone foam dressings verblalized reduced pain scores at three or below (on a scale of 1-10) before and after each dressing change. Soft silcone foam dressings were found to be beneficial in reducing pain, managing exudate, and decreasing length of stay so that patients could be discharged within 48 hours. Trot A. Wounds and Laceration Emergency Care and Closure. 1997 Whitney J. Wound Healing. In: Cardona V, Hurn P, Bastnagel P, Scanlon A, Veise-Berry S (eds). Trauma Nursing From Resusucitation Through Rehabilitation. 1994:266Ð286. Stewart R., Myers J, Dent D. Wounds, bites, and stings. In: Moore E, Felicaino D, Mattox K (eds). Trauma. 2004;1059Ð1079). . |
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