Pressure ulcer prevention: presenting evidence

The ‘Proof into Practice’ webinar, hosted by Mölnlycke Health Care, provided new scientific and clinical evidence to support the use of a multi-layer dressing as a preventative solution to heel pressure ulcers. Suzanne Callander reports.

Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers result from a local injury to the skin and underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence. They are created as an effect of pressure, shear and friction and can lead to an increased risk of morbidity, increased length of hospital stay and decreased quality of life, as well as resulting in increased healthcare costs.  It was estimated that the total cost of treating pressure ulcers in the NHS in 2007 was between £2 billion and £3 bn.1

Evidence has been published in recent years to demonstrate that silicone foam dressings can decrease pressure, shear and friction forces and effectively manage microclimate which can assist in reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers.2