With many types of available dressings, some caregivers and nursing assistants may question which is the most effective when applied to leg ulcers. Luckily, the answer is simple – and so is the dressing. According to NursingTimes.net, keep dressings for leg ulcers simple, atraumatic and of a low enough profile so as to not create pressure damage.
Pressure damage can come about through bulky dressings under a compression bandage. They can alter the pressure exerted on the leg and can result in localized edema and increased exudate. Patients in these situations are also at higher risk of limb trauma.
“If the wound is producing excess exudate, the dressing should offer absorbency with minimal thickness to ensure the bandages around the leg maintain an even pressure; if the wound is dry, a dressing that promotes moisture may be needed to optimize the wound-healing process, which slows in the absence of moisture,” explains the editors at NursingTimes.net. “Care must be taken to ensure moisture does not become excessive, leading to skin irritation.”
Beyond the ability to maintain pressure and proper levels of moisture, dressings play a large role when helping with infection prevention and control. Furthermore, they also have the ability to protect the skin from exudate, control pain and minimize malodor.
To learn more about tracking the healing process once the proper dressing has been applied, feel free to reach out to the staff here at WoundRounds. We’d be happy to answer any questions that you might have.
