Effectiveness of Safetac^® technology for reducing wound-related pain: a significant factor in delayed healing and increased treatment costs
Richard White, Alejandro Blanco Valdehita

SUMMARY

Introduction: Patients treated by surgical procedures have high risk for developing pressure ulcers. Some studies found a high incidence of pressure ulcers (PU) in patients after surgical orthopaedic interventions. Several factors increasing riskhave been proposed, although this is a controversial point.

Pain is a common experience for people with both acute and chronic wounds. Wound-related pain can be intense, adversely affect physical functioning, prolong the time to healing, cause psychological distress and reduce patient quality of life. Dressing change procedures are often the most painful aspect of wound care. The removal of some adhesive dressings and dry dressings are known to cause trauma and pain. The prevention / minimisation of these unwanted effects should be a key objective in the provision of wound care, but this is not always so. Many clinicians remain unaware of wound-related pain, the detrimental effect that it can have on healing, and the available remedies. There are also significant cost implications to consider.

KEY WORDS

   Safetac^®, wound, pain, dressing, wound care, healing.

Vol. 20 nº3-2009