title: Acute management of skin tears: a change in practice pilot study.
abstract: Skin tears are an increasingly common injury occurring in the elderly population and have significant associated morbidity secondary to poor wound healing, prolonged hospital stays and reduced mobility. There has been a shift in practice for the acute management of skin tears within our institution, which has resulted in improved outcomes and reduced morbidity for this common and debilitating injury. Review of past and current practices including cost analyses has led to the establishment of a management protocol for the hospital and wider area health service with the aim to reduce the burden of disease amongst our ever-expanding elderly population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Vandervord
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tolerton
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Jan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Darke
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Anna-Marie V
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Loch-Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003646:Debridement; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Skin grafting; Skin tear management; Wound care