title: Improving the ability to eliminate wounds and pressure ulcers.
abstract: Pressure ulcers can be initiated by as little as 2 hours of constant pressure on the ski, that blocks blood circulation causing the skin and underlying tissues to die, leading to an open wound that never heals, but continues to grow in diameter and depth, and frequently jeopardizes patients' lives. Despite the application of many diverse techniques, pressure ulcers remain exceptionally difficult to heal because many ulcer elimination techniques have minimal effects, and although other techniques may appear to be effective, the evidence supporting their efficacy is weak. However, increasing evidence indicates that other techniques, such as the application of platelet-rich plasma, vacuum assisted closure, electrical stimulation, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are effective and should be substituted for the older techniques. This review describes different standard and novel techniques that have been tested for eliminating pressure ulcers and discusses the relative efficacy of these techniques.
authors: Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors: Damien P
authors: DP
authors: Kuffler
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001458:Bandages; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A