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Case Study/Series
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The Versatility of a Soft Silicone Dressing on Large Dehisced Amputation Wounds First Author: Gill Weaver Authors: Gill Weaver Kath Crawford Amputation wounds are very difficult to treat with a traditional dressing and they present a unique challenge to the healthcare professional. The complex nature of amputation wounds in terms of shape, size and location together with the functional requirements to continue everyday tasks such as walking on a prosthesis, dictates that a dressing used in these circumstances needs to meet certain criteria. These include conformabililty to allow moulding around a stump, ability to handle moderate to high levels of exudate without maceration to the peri-wound skin, compressability under shrinker socks, early walking aids and prostheses, to be comfortable for the patient and atraumatic to the wound and surrounding skin on removal. Patients at Manchester Royal Infirmary may be referred to the Vascular Outreach Team following limb amputation. The majority of the patients are over 65years of age and approximately 70% have Diabetes. Due to chronic problems with circulation some of these patients have historically difficult to heal wounds. A series of case studies are presented that describe the challenges of these wounds and what dressing can be used to overcome them. Case studies have been selected to demonstrate the versatility of the soft silicone dressing in the above circumstances. |
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