08 March 2023

Comparative effectiveness of heel-specific medical devices for the prevention of heel pressure ulcers: A systematic review

Greenwood C, Nelson EA, Nixon J, Vargas-Palacios A, McGinnis E Pressure ulcers (PU) develop & heal differently to the heel compared to other body sites This paper reviews the effectiveness of all heel specific devices for the prevention of heel PUs Off-loading devices may reduce HPU incidence, but low-quality evidence reduces certainty Insufficient evidence of […]

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24 October 2022

Skin damage prevention in the prone ventilated critically ill patient: A comprehensive review and gap analysis (PRONEtect study)

Anika Fourie, Maarit Ahtiala, Joyce Black, Heidi Hevia, Fiona Coyer, Amit Gefen, Kim LeBlanc, Steven Smet, Kathleen Vollman, Yolanda Walsh, Dimitri Beeckman Highlights Skin damage is a common hazard during prone ventilation Comprehensive but brief evidence-based practical guidance is not available More evidence is needed for prone positioning devices to prevent harm This work is […]

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24 October 2022

Sex-specific differences in prevention and treatment of institutional-acquired pressure ulcers in hospitals and nursing homes

Andrea Lichterfeld-Kottner, Nils Lahmann, Jan Kottner Highlights Sex-specific differences in prevention of pressure ulcers were minor in hospitals and nursing homes More women at risk of institutional-acquired pressure ulcers were underweight, whereas more men were obese Women generally receive more special support surfaces View on Journal of Tissue Viability website

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14 September 2022

Risk factors for the development and evolution of deep tissue injuries: A systematic review

It is now recognised that Deep Tissue Injury (DTI) has a unique clinical appearance. None the less, there is a paucity of information on the specific risk factors associated with DTI as well as what influences their outcomes. The objective of this systematic review was to unearth and showcase current evidence on the epidemiological characteristics […]

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04 August 2022

Protective equipment-related pressure ulcers in healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review

During the height of the COVID pandemic my colleagues and I at the RCSI Skin Wounds and Trauma Research Centre were involved in two projects that involved preventing facial pressure ulcers, caused by PPE, in frontline COVID staff. This paper added further fuel to what was a global phenomenon, and one we must take learnings […]

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04 August 2022

The influence of sock composition on the appearance of foot blisters in hikers

The study written about in this paper examined the role of sock fibres (synthetic vs natural) in preventing blisters in over 200 long-distance hikers, all of whom had to meet strict inclusion criteria. The mean age of the sample was 35.8 ± 14.5 years, from 22 countries, and all were undertaking the Camino de Santiago […]

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