Wound Care Information Network

 

 

January 15, 2004

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 New questions sent by readers. Please e-mail your answers. See previous questions and answers below.

If you know of any patients who are interested in being part of advanced wound care clinical trials, please visit this new offering by a non-profit organization. It's a free service that can potentially connect patients to appropriate clinical trials.  Click here for more information.  
Hello:

I am currently being treated to heal skin ulcerations on both of my feet. I have sickle cell anemia and I am 30 years old. I am searching for more information on prevention and treatment for these painful ulcerations.

Michael,
Omaha, NE
Archived emails can not be replied to.
I am trying to find out if Aescin (from horse chestnut) is used in North America for the treatment of CVI and its associated symptoms such as stasis dermatitis. Apparently it is being used in Europe with good results. If so what products are available in Canada containing aescin for this use?
Thanks
JB
 
HELLO, WE ARE SEARCHING FOR INFO ON THE LATEST STRATIGIES IN THE CARE OF WOUNDS SEEN IN THE EMEERGENCY DEPT. IE: LACERATIONS , PUNCTURES, AVULSIONS, ABRASIONS.
WE ARE INTERESTED IN THE APPROPRIATE CLEANSING FOR SUCH WOUNDS . ANY INFO WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
THANKS
MELISSA NOLDY RN NORHT ARUNDEL HOSPITAL GLEN BURNIE MD
 
Job Available:

Location: San Diego, California
Edgemoor Hospital
Distinct Part, Long Term Care Facility
County of San Diego

Clinical Nurse Specialist needed with a background in wound care and/or infection control to oversee care for 175 residents with a focus on skin integrity and wound prevention.
Please contact Karin Berntsen at 619 956-2939.

 
I am having no luck trying to close a pressure ulcer on a patients hip. It is undermined by about 0.5cm circumferentially, and is about 0.5 cm deep. the wound bed only has small amount of yellow slough since debriding with collagenase, moderate exudate, using iodosorb and hydrofiber dressings but no improvement, any suggestions?

Jill

 
Can you site a specific government regulation as to how and when to photograph wounds?

Rose J. Paul, PT
Director of Rehabilitation Services
 
 
Hi, I am a 41 year old male quadraplegic that has developed a small pressure sore on my lower buttock. It started out like a pimple and has slowly increased in size. Its only about 3mm wide and maybe 2ml deep. My problem I believe is its in a crease and this is keeping it from healing. Have been cleaning with saline and coating with Carrington gel and covering with gause. Very little if any drainage. I know its not much yet but seems to have halted its healing And any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks
Tim p.s. if anyone would like to email I'm
Tstra25593@aol.com
 
I have a diabetic foot ulcer that occurred overnight and has been with me for about a month. I had one on the other foot that stayeed with me for years until it eventually had to be operated on and the fifth toe and bone were ampitated and a slice of the foot was removed. I went to Illinois Bone and Joint and they put the foot in a full cast. The same day I went to the emergency room and had it cut off because of swelling. I have conjestive
heart failure and my circulation is poor. My feet ane legs automatically swell and I live wearing compression socks. Anyway, Illinois Bone and Joint wants to put the cast back on and I refused. Is there another treatment? I
have an elevated shoe that has me walking on my heel. I have a "diaper" I wear on the foot to absord drainage. the compression sock over it, a half cast that I wear on the bottom of the foot that goes around the outside of
the leg and calf (that the emertencdy roomn invented fter taking the full cast off)and then wear a sock over it. Any recommendations? Any referals in the Park Ridge, IL area? Thanks, Steve Daniels
 

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 Previous email questions & their replies are listed below. Remember, replies have not been validated for accuracy or truthfulness.

 

Hi,

My dad has got an ulcer half way between his knee & ankle. He has bad circulation as he had a blood clot 5 years ago, we are just wondering if you can recommend any web sites or any treatments which will help reduce the size of the ulcer. It is about the 5cent piece size. It gets a crusty scab and causes a lot of pain.

Your help will be much appreciated

Many thanks
Jessica
Some are caused by bad veins, and some are caused by bad arteries. Your physician or physical therapist needs to do a thorough evaluation to decide which it is, as the treatment will differ. Most are "venous", or from bad veins. The most effective treatment for these will be some form of compression bandaging/wrapping/stockings. The exact form that will be best for your father is best decided by a physician or physical therapist with specialized training in wound management. Compression alone can heal about 70% of these, and most of the rest can heal with compression in conjunction with certain other treatments such as electrical stimulation, Jobst Compression pumps, or "Vacuum Assisted Closure". Check on www.aawm.org/specialists.html to see where the nearest Certified Wound Specialist is to you.
Bryan Gibby, MSPT, CWS

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Has he seen a Doctor and had it evaluated? Normally, that crust should be debrided and the wound covered and moist for better healing, but it should be evaluated. Some Podiatrists are wonderful at this, and in California at least, they are licensed to treat below the knee.

Terrigene Schmidt RN BA
 

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Dear Jessica:

Check out the Diapulse Wound Treatment System at www.diapulse.com I have had tremendous success using this machine on venous stasis ulcers and all other types of chronic wounds.

Please be advised that I do not have any financial interest in Diapulse. I keep making this recommendation simply because I know that it works from reviewing the medical literature and from professional experience. Good luck.

Thomas A. Sharon, R.N., M.P.H.

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Sounds like your father has a venous leg ulcer due to his history of DVT and poor circulation. Get in touch with a leg ulcer clinic. He needs to have an ABPI to determine wether he would be suitable for compression bandaging which is the recommended treatment for venous ulcers. If it is venous in origin it will not heal without compression. A site you may want to visit
is www.worldwidewounds.com

Janine Michaelides SRN.ONC.DIPHe (WOUND CARE)

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It sounds like he probably has a venous insufficiency ulcer.  With this type of wound, compression is necessary for healing.
There are a number of options, and a wound specialist will be able to determine the appropriate type, and apply it. However,
you can only do this if the arterial circulation is good. That must be tested first. For a certified specialist in your area, go to www.aawm.org and www.wocn.org.

Renee C., MSPT, MPH, CWS

I am a community nurse, I have a client with venous ulcer, over-granulation is present recently. I would like to know how to manage the over-granulation. Is hydrocolloid works?
Flora
Actually, hydrocolloids are known to promote hypergranulation, so don't use it for this person. Two things really help hypergranulation. First, compression helps keep it down. Since this is a venous ulcer, compression is crucial for healing. If that's not enough, silver nitrate can be used to take down the hypergranulation.

Renee C, MSPT, MPH, CWS

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I have good results using silver nitrate to cauterize and then using a foam dressing. This may take several treatments.

Sunny, CWOCN

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Hi
As far as I know, a small dose of corticosteroid topical application for few days after scrapping of hypergranulated area is useful in controlling in hypergranulation. In my experience, for some patients if use hydrocolloids, it will aggravate hypergranulation.
Thanks
Tessy, wound care practitioner

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For over-granulation or hypergranulated wound, you can try the foam dressing, Polymem (known as the pink drsg.) or Allevyn. That seems to work very well in my experience besides the silver nitrate applicator and less pain. Hope this help.

Tong, RN

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Flora,
Get to a wound care specialist. He needs silver nitrate to get the wound back to skin level.
JLG RN,BSN,CWOCN

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Over-granulation, or hypergranulation, also known as "proud flesh" is basically too much of a good thing. The most recent literature I have read says that occlusive dressing such a hydrocolloids should be avoided. These wounds actually should be left open to air for about 20-30 minutes 2-3 times a day, then dress with whatever ointment you are using and cover specifically with a foam pad dressing. Hope this helps.

Lee

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Is the overgranulation red and beefy in appearance? Could be infection in tissues or increased bacterial burden. Acticoat is excellent for this type of problem.
Also silicone dressings will help reduce overgranulation, but you might also need to consider silver nitrate treatment

LB (ET Nurse)

I have found your website very helpful in developing an education program for nurses working at the large aged care facility where I work in Sydney. I am interested in innovative education tools/techniques that enhances nurses understanding of how to prevent pressure ulcer development. Do you have any resources/contacts?

Thank you
The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel has a lot of information, including posters, on pressure ulcer prevention. They have some good slide sets as well, on staging and other
issues. www.npuap.org

Renee C., MSPT, MPH, CWS

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Have you tried the Joanna Briggs Institute website. It contains a large number of best practice guidelines. I'm sure that there is something in regard to pressure ulcer prevention.

There is also a circular published by NSW Health in pressure ulcer prevention.

Hope this helps.

Martin EN
Assessor and Workplace Trainer

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I have nothing innovative I'm afraid. However, the best educational tool for pressure ulcer prevention is the time-tested proverbial sledge hammer.

Pound this into the minds of your students until it becomes a mantra:

Zero tolerance for bedsores!!!

Make certain your patients are turned and repositioned every two hours seven days per week around the clock without fail.

If you prevent the pressure, you will prevent the pressure ulcer.

How come nobody seems to get it? Forgive me. I've been fighting this battle for two decades and I'm a little frustrated. You can find some valuable clinical insights and links at the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (USA) website at http://www.npuap.org/Default.htm

Thomas A. Sharon, R.N., M.P.H.
 

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I am the Coordinator of the Wound Care Unit here at Destiny: Future Quest in Oklahoma. I have a Wound care training program that I would be happy to share with you if you will send me your name and address of where to mail the information. There will be no charge for the information. Thank you……..

Janalene Eaton,LPN Wound Care Coordinator.
Janalene.Eaton@dfqhugo.com

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The Australian Wound Management Association (AWMA) has produced guidelines for the prediction and prevention of pressure ulcers in Australia for use in situations such as yours. They can be downloaded for free from the AWMA website (www.awma.com.au) or purchased as booklets from the association. You should also contact your state wound management association (contact details on the AWMA site too) and see what support they may be able to offer you

Greg Duncan
Wound Management Lecturer & Researcher, Monash University, Melbourne

 


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