What are the Benefits of Foam Sacrum Dressings
Here are some benefits when treating your wounds with sacral foam dressings. They Include;
- They are made to treat sacral injuries: One of the prominent features of these dressings is their unique design. It is fashioned to fit perfectly on the sacrum, enabling it to manage sacral wounds. Also, their shape is enhanced for pressure ulcer prevention, allowing for good coverage of the high-risk sacral area and an improved gluteal seal for optimal protection. Peer-reviewed studies have shown that these dressings effectively prevent and treat sacral pressure ulcers [1] [3].
- They have excellent absorptive capacity: Sacral foam dressings can absorb a large volume of fluid, making them ideal for wounds with moderate to heavy exudates. They typically have five (5) layers, enhancing the dressings' ability to absorb and retain fluid [1] [2].
- Easy to apply to wounds: They are comfortable and easy to use. Their design incorporates improved handling tabs and thicker borders to facilitate application and patient examination [1].
- Minimizes pain during removal: Sacral foam dressings' design incorporates Safetac technology, which reduces discomfort and has silicone adherence [1]. Therefore, the dressing is comfortable and molds itself to the patient's anatomy, making it simple to remove without causing any harm to the skin. This means that your patients will experience less pain as a result.
Indications for Foam Sacral Dressings
Foam sacrum dressings have been shown to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers, disperse tissue shear and friction, and keep the skin at its optimal microclimate while being worn. Ideally, these dressings are used for oozing wounds like ulcers. However, they can also be used to treat necrotic wounds and dry wounds when used with gels.
How to Use Foam Sacrum Dressings
Using foam sacrum wound dressings to heal your wounds is a simple and effective method of wound care. If you follow the instructions given by the manufacturer, you shouldn't run into any issues. Follow these instructions to apply the dressings to your wounds perfectly.
- Determine the proper dressing positioning by evaluating the patient's anatomy.
- After the skin has been cleaned and prepped, carefully pull on the pink-lined edge of the center release film.
- Hold buttocks apart. Apply a dressing to the sacral region and the upper portion of the gluteal cleft, positioning the base of the dressing to cover the coccyx.
- Remove the side release films, then firmly press each side into position.
- To ensure the entire dressing is in touch with the skin, press and smooth it.
Foam sacral dressings can be re-applied when necessary, especially to prevent pressure ulcers. Following these instructions to re-applied the dressing appropriately.
- Check to make sure the dressing is intact and applied correctly.
- Pull the handle tabs apart carefully to remove the dressing from the skin.
- Use handle tabs to keep removing the dressing from the skin until the skin is exposed for a skin check.
- Perform a skin examination while keeping the dressing at the gluteal cleft.
- Put the foam and edges of the dressing back on.
- Make sure the dressing is repositioned in its original location, and check to ensure the border is smooth and undamaged.
- Apply some pressure to the dressing and smoothen it over the skin to bring the entirety of the dressing into touch with the skin.
Conclusion
Foam sacrum dressings are the go-to wound care product for treating and preventing sacral wounds.
References
- Silverstein, P., Heimbach, D., Meites, H., Latenser, B., Mozingo, D., Mullins, F., Garner, W., Turkowski, J., Shupp, J., Glat, P., & Purdue, G. (2011). An open, parallel, randomized, comparative, multicenter study to evaluate the cost-effectiveness, performance, tolerance, and safety of a silver-containing soft silicone foam dressing (intervention) vs silver sulfadiazine cream. Journal of Burn Care & Research: Official Publication of the American Burn Association, 32(6), 617–626. https://doi.org/10.1097/BCR.0b013e318236fe31
- Kalowes, P., Messina, V., & Li, M. (2016). Five-layered soft silicone foam dressing to prevent pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit. American Journal of Critical Care: An Official Publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 25(6), e108–e119. https://doi.org/10.4037/ajcc2016875
- Woo, K. Y., Coutts, P. M., Price, P., Harding, K., & Sibbald, R. G. (2009). A randomized crossover investigation of pain at dressing change comparing 2 foam dressings. Advances in Skin & Wound Care, 22(7), 304–310. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ASW.0000305483.60616.26