Keywords

deep-tissue pressure injury, lower-extremity injury, long-term care, offloading, polymeric membrane dressings, pressure injury, skin barrier film

 

Authors

  1. Henson, Autumn DNP, GNP-BC, WCC
  2. Kennedy-Malone, Laurie PhD, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively examine clinical outcomes from a feasibility study that compared two treatment options for deep-tissue pressure injuries (DTPIs), including the clinical indicators increasing the risk of deteriorating DTPIs among long-term care residents.

 

METHODS: A retrospective chart audit of 40 DTPIs from 33 long-term care residents in two long-term care facilities was conducted to compare (1) polymeric membrane dressings (PMDs) with offloading and (2) a skin barrier film with offloading.

 

RESULTS: Of the 13 DTPIs treated with PMDs, only 23% deteriorated to a stage 3 or 4 pressure injury (PI), whereas of the 27 DTPIs treated with skin barrier film, 41% deteriorated to a stage 3 or 4 PI. The clinical factors found to increase the risk of developing and deteriorating DTPIs included weight loss, hypoalbuminemia, debility, dementia, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular disease.

 

CONCLUSIONS: The PMD group's DTPIs evolved into fewer open PIs despite having higher percentages of clinical indicators for DTPIs. The project findings support the use of PMD dressings for DTPIs; however, more robust research is warranted.