Other strategies evaluated for the treatment of pressure ulcers include the use of oxandrolone (an androgen used to promote weight gain), which was found to show no improvement versus placebo in wound healing and to have associated adverse events. Additional therapies evaluated included electromagnetic therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, negative pressure wound therapy, light therapy, and laser therapy, which all showed no improvement in the reduction of wound size, or complete healing, when compared with sham therapies.
Bottom line
For the prevention of pressure ulcers, assess each patient for risk using clinical judgment or a risk assessment tool of your choice. When possible, choose static mattresses or mattress overlays rather than the more costly, and more bothersome, alternating air mattresses. For the treatment of pressure ulcers, use protein or amino acid supplementation to aid in wound healing, use hydrocolloid or foam dressings to help decrease wound size, and consider electrical stimulation as a treatment option in younger patients.
References
Risk Assessment and Prevention of Pressure Ulcers: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162[5]:359-69.
Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162[5]:370-9.
Dr. Skolnik is associate director of the family medicine residency program at Abington (Pa.) Memorial Hospital and professor of family and community medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia. Dr. Carcia is chief resident in the family medicine program at Abington.