title: Enhancing pressure ulcer prevention using wound dressings: what are the modes of action?
abstract: Recent clinical research has generated interest in the use of sacral wound dressings as preventive devices for patients at risk of ulceration. This study was conducted to identify the modes of action through which dressings can add to pressure ulcer prevention, for example, shear and friction force redistribution and pressure distribution. Bench testing was performed using nine commercially available dressings. The use of dressings can reduce the amplitude of shear stress and friction reaching the skin of patients at risk. They can also effectively redirect these forces to wider areas which minimises the mechanical loads upon skeletal prominences. Dressings can redistribute pressure based upon their effective Poisson ratio and larger deflection areas, providing greater load redistribution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Weber State University, Ogden, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Call
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Weber State University, Ogden, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bill
authors.affiliation: Adult Health and Illness Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Black
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Portugal, OPorto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Wound Care Team, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: C Tod
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Brindle
authors.affiliation: Research Development Team, University Hospital Birmingham NHSFT, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dealey
authors.affiliation: Nursing-Translational Research, University of Melbourne & Royal Melbourne Hospital AU, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Santamaria
authors.affiliation: Research Development Team, University Hospital Birmingham NHSFT, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid / Q000592:standards*; D017276:Friction; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012445:Sacrococcygeal Region; D033081:Shear Strength; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Dressing prophylaxis; Force dispersion; In vitro force measurement; Point load deflection; Poisson's ratio; Pressure ulcer; Pressure ulcer prevention; Shear
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