Transparent Bordered Hydropolymer Gel Film Dressing to Manage Skin Tears

Introduction:
A variety of wound dressings and products are used to treat skin tears in the home care setting. This case series involved eight traumatic skin tears on patients receiving nursing care from a community home health care agency. The goals were to evaluate the ease of application, removal, exudate management, conformability and the healing progress when using a new transparent bordered hydropolymer gel dressing with traumatic skin tears. This poster series shows visual documentation of three of the most challenging skin tear cases with progression to healing using this new dressing.

Methods/Materials:
The new transparent hydropolymer gel dressing is designed to protect against moisture, bacteria and outside contaminants yet provide a moist healing environment and visualization of the wound bed while securely in place. This dressing was applied in all eight cases and changed twice weekly per the home care staff nurses. The absorbent hydropolymer gel ensures the optimal moisture level, the thin film allows for conformability and patient comfort and the transparency allows for visual assessment of the wound without disrupting the wound healing process. Eight partial and full thickness skin tears were used in this case series. Five of the skin tears were located on the arms, two were on the lower extremities and one was on the back. Assessments, photographs and measurements were recorded with each dressing changed twice weekly until healed.

Results:
All eight skin tears were healed with twice weekly dressing changes. The healing times varied from 2.5 weeks up to 6 weeks with an average healing time of 2.5 weeks. Reductions in inflammation were noted with each first dressing change. This dressing allowed minimal disruption of the wound healing process with twice weekly dressing changes.

Conclusions:
The transparent film bordered hydropolymer gel dressings were clinically effective managing eight traumatic skin tears in the home care setting to healing. The dressings provided an easy, conformable and comfortable dressing change promoting healing of eight traumatic skin tears in a home health care setting. The transparency allowed for quick assessment for early detection of inflammation or infection without disrupting the wound healing process.

References:
1. LeBlanc, K, Baranowski S., Skin tears: Best practices for care and prevention. Nursing: May 2014- Volume 44-Issue 5-pp 36-46.
2. Baranowski S, Ayello EA, Langemo D. Wound Assessment. In: Baranowski S, Ayello EA, eds. Wound Care Essentials: Practice Principles.3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2012: 101-125