Effects of a normothermic dressing on pressure ulcer healing.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of radiant heat applied through a semiocclusive dressing on periwound skin temperature and wound healing.

DESIGN

Before-after trial.

SETTING

Spinal cord injury and geriatric units of a VA medical center.

PATIENTS

Twenty inpatients with 21 Stage III and IV pressure ulcers.

INTERVENTIONS

A semiocclusive, heated dressing was applied to 15 Stage III and IV pressure ulcers for 4.5 hours, Monday through Friday, for 4 consecutive weeks. The dressing emitted heat at 38.0 degrees C for 2 60-minute periods daily. At all other times, the wounds received only standard wound care. Six wounds in a separate control group received only standard wound care during the same 4-week period.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Periwound skin temperature within and adjacent to the dressing and measurements of wound surface area.

MAIN RESULTS

Mean skin temperatures inside and outside the heated dressing increased by 0.97 degree C and 1.08 degrees C (P < .05), respectively, from baseline values. Wounds treated with standard care plus the heated dressing underwent a statistically significant reduction in mean surface area of 60.73%. Wounds in the control group underwent a statistically insignificant reduction in mean surface area of 19.24%.

CONCLUSION

Wounds treated with a radiant heat dressing healed significantly faster than wounds that received only standard care. There were no adverse effects from the radiant heat dressing.