Practice Innovations
Average patient age was 56.1 ± 18.4 years. Wound types included traumatic (n=3), venous leg ulcer (n=3), arterial ulcer (n=1), diabetic foot ulcer (n=1), surgical dehiscence (n=1) or abscess (n=1). Prior to elastomeric skin protectant application, periwound skin pain averaged 5.6 ± 1.1; while periwound skin itchiness averaged 6.6 ± 1.6. All patients showed periwound skin improvement after elastomeric skin protectant use was initiated. Following skin protectant application, periwound skin pain was significantly reduced in 9/10 patients (4.2 ± 1.0, p=0.0001). Additionally, periwound skin itchiness was significantly reduced in all patients (3.6 ± 1.0, p=0.0001) after elastomeric skin protectant use.
Discussion:
In these 10 patients, elastomeric skin protectant use under wound dressings with or without compression resulted in improved periwound skin and a reduction in pain and itchiness. Pain reduction was likely due to increased patient comfort as the skin protectant does not have analgesic properties.
Trademarked Items: *3M™ Cavilon™ Advance Skin Protectant (3M Company, St. Paul, MN)
References: 1. Cutting K. F. (2008). Impact of adhesive surgical tape and wound dressings on the skin, with reference to skin stripping. Journal of wound care, 17(4), 157–162. https://doi.org/10.12968/jowc.2008.17.4.28836
2. Dowsett C., von Hallern B. (2017) The triangle of wound assessment: a holistic framework from wound assessment to management goals and treatments. Wounds international, 8(4), 34-39.