Smith & Nephew plc announces the publication of a study demonstrating that adding ALLEVYN LIFE multi-layer silicone adhesive foam dressing to a standard care protocol can help reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers by 71% in elderly patients admitted to a hospital for hip fracture.

The study, published in the International Wound Journal, included 359 patients aged 65 or over, who were divided into two groups—one group received standard care, and the other received standard care with the addition of an ALLEVYN LIFE dressing applied to the sacrum.

According to the study, 15.4% of the patients who received standard care developed a pressure ulcer, as opposed to only 4.5% of the standard care-plus-dressing group—resulting in a 71% reduction in pressure ulcer incidence.

“Our research shows that ALLEVYN LIFE is effective at reducing the rate of pressure ulcers in the sacrum in elderly patients with hip fracture. The excellent adhesiveness of this device also enables costs to be kept down,” says Professor Cristiana Forni, Head of a research nursing centre, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna, Italy, and the study’s first author, in a media release from Smith & Nephew.

The dressing features a five-layer design that incorporates a breathable top layer , hydrocellular foam, a hyper-absorbent lock away core, a masking layer, a silicone gel adhesive layer, and a wide border, as well as a unique tail designed specifically for wounds in the sacral area and fits around the cleft, to help overcome common problems such as the dressing tenting, per the release.

“Many global experts and professional bodies state polyurethane foam dressings should be considered for use prophylactically on bony prominences in anatomical areas subject to friction and shear,” states Dr Andy Weymann, chief medical officer, Smith & Nephew.

“This new research further demonstrates that ALLEVYN LIFE is a safe and effective preventative measure suited to be at the heart of a pressure ulcer prevention strategy,” he adds.

[Source(s): Smith & Nephew, Business Wire]