title: What is the healing time of Stage II pressure ulcers? Findings from a secondary analysis.
abstract: Pressure ulcers (PrUs) remain a concern for clinicians, patients, caregivers, and researchers. Although data on prevalence and incidence are available, as well as evidence-based prevention and management intervention, PrU healing time is underreported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the healing time of Stage II PrUs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analysis of data collected from a multicenter randomized clinical trial was undertaken. Patients (a) with a Stage II PrU, (b) older than 18 years, and (c) who had given informed consent were included. The endpoints of the study were complete re-epithelialization of the PrU measured with the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing Tool 3.0 and the healing time. A network of 46 healthcare centers located in northern Italy participated in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred seventy patients with an average age of 83.9 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 82.71-85.10) were recruited. Among 270 Stage II PrUs included, 153 lesions healed (56.7%), whereas 74 (27.4%) were still present after 10 weeks of follow-up. For 43 lesions (15.9%), the follow-up evaluation was interrupted because of patient death or transfer to units not included in the study. The PrUs healed on an average of 22.9 days (95% CI, 20.47-25.37 days), with a median of 18 days. The average healing time for PrUs of less than 3.1 cm was significantly shorter (19.2 days; 95% CI, 16.6-21.8) compared with those 3.1 cm or greater (31.0 days; 95% CI, 26.4-35.6 days) (P = .000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To achieve complete re-epithelialization in Stage II PrUs, it takes approximately 23 days. This is quite a long time if we consider that pressures of only 60 to 70 mm Hg for between 30 and 240 minutes are needed to cause tissue damage. On average, a small ulcer heals 12 days faster compared with those with a surface of 3.1 cm or greater.
authors.affiliation: Alvisa Palese, MNS, is an Associate Professor, Nursing Science, Udine University, Udine, Italy. Saiani Luisa, MNS, RN, is an Associate Professor, Nursing Science, Verona University, Verona, Italy. Pota Ilenia, BNS, RN, is a Nurse, Udine University School of Nursing Research Team, Udine, Italy. Dario Laquintana, MNS, RN, is Nurse Director, Policlinico Milano, Milan, Italy. Giuseppe Stinco, MD, is a Researcher, Institute of Dermatology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy. Paola Di Giulio, MNS, RN, is an Associate Professor, Nursing Science, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Alvisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palese
authors.forename: Saiani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luisa
authors.forename: Pota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ilenia
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laquintana
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stinco
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Giulio
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009735:Nursing Homes; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D062326:Re-Epithelialization / Q000502:physiology*; D059039:Standard of Care