Classification of Wound Pain

Wound pain can be classified in two ways; according to the pattern of occurrence or according to the origin. Both classifications are necessary to completely characterize the pain caused by an individual wound. The classification of pain by occurrence was formalized by Krasner, who devised the following three categories: Noncyclic acute wound pain, Cyclic acute…

Chronic Wound Pain: Is it Really Such a Problem?

1 Comment

A wealth of academic research has been devoted to the assessment, diagnosis and management of wound pain. A review of the resulting literature reveals the full scale of the problem, indicating that the vast majority of patients with chronic wounds, such as pressure ulcers and venous leg ulcers suffer from pain at the wound site…

Tips for Ensuring Job Security in an Insecure Economy

The jobless rate in the United States has now surpassed 10%. Every industry, including health care, must tighten their purse strings in order to remain viable in today’s tough economic climate. Part of this strategy may be the retention of employees that can offer organizations the most value for their money. How can you ensure…

Interactive Wound Dressings

2 Comments

Wound dressings are sometimes described as passive, active, or interactive. While passive wound dressings simply serve a protective function, active dressings actually promote healing through the creation of a moist wound environment. Interactive wound dressings, on the other hand, not only create a moist wound environment but also interact with the wound bed components to…

Hydrogel Dressings

Hydrogels are one of the most versatile dressings on the market. Consisting of 80% to 99% water or glycerin, hydrogels absorb minimal amounts of fluid but are able to donate moisture to dry wounds. Hydrogels consist of three-dimensional networks of hydrophilic polymers and are available in two forms: amorphous and fixed. Amorphous hydrogels offer gentle…

Hydrocolloid Dressings

Hydrocolloids are occlusive or semi-occlusive dressings consisting of a combination of gel-forming polymers that absorb exudate slowly by swelling into a gel-like mass. Hydrocolloids have different absorption capabilities depending on their thickness and composition. Upon removal, a residue commonly remains within the wound bed, which is often mistaken as a sign of infection. Although sometimes…

Transparent Film Dressings

Transparent film dressings are thin, flexible sheets of clear polyurethane incorporating an adhesive coating on one side to allow adherence to the skin. The adhesive reacts with wound fluid to prevent adhesion to the wound bed, while allowing the dressing to stick to the dry, periwound skin. Film dressings are highly elastic and conformable to…

Foam Dressings

Foams are absorbent dressings that are available either in adhesive or non-adhesive form. They are often used as a primary dressing, but may also be used as a secondary dressings in some circumstances. Some foam dressings are thin, while others are thicker and provide greater cushioning and absorption. Foams are formed from polymers, such as…

Alginate Wound Dressings

3 Comments

Alginate dressings are made from natural polysaccharide fibers that are derived from processed seaweed. These non-woven, non-adhesive dressings are highly absorbent, soft, and conformable. They are easy to pack, tuck or apply over wounds of irregular shapes. Because they have no adhesive properties, secondary dressings must be used to secure alginate dressings. Alginate dressings are…