PURPOSE: To determine whether application of a silicone foam dressing is associated with decreased interface pressures when applied to the heel.
DESIGN: Prospective, within-subjects design.
SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The study was conducted in a community-based hospital using a convenience sample of 50 healthy volunteers with a mean age of 39.6 years and mean body mass index of 26.6; 70% were female.
METHODS: Application of the silicone border foam dressing was randomized between the left and right heels. Participants were asked to lie down in the supine position on a viscoelastic foam mattress. Interface pressure measurements were captured using a pressure mapping system; measurements were taken once with the dressing applied to the heel (intervention map) and once without (control map). Data were captured after a 4-minute time period allowing stabilization. Analysis was based on mean interface pressure; data points were collected for both heels in each of the 2 frames, yielding 4 observations per subject.
RESULTS: Application of the dressing was associated with a significant decrease in average pressure measurements as compared to the heel with no dressing applied (P < .001). Application of the dressing did not impact pressure readings for the heel to which no dressing was applied (P = .53), and application of the dressing to either the left or right heel did not impact pressure readings (ie, the random effect was insignificant; P = .9).
CONCLUSIONS: Application of a silicone border foam dressing is associated with significant reduction in interface pressure and may be considered as part of a pressure ulcer prevention program.
Stephannie K. Miller, MPH, Wound Center, Akron General Medical Center, Akron, Ohio.
Neal Sharma, BS, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio.
Lauren C. Aberegg, BS, Department of Biological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
Kimberly N. Blasiole, MSN, RN, CWOCN, Wound Center, Akron General Medical Center, Akron, Ohio.
Judith A. Fulton, PhD, Wound Center, Akron General Medical Center, Akron, Ohio.
Correspondence: Judith A. Fulton, PhD, Wound Center, Akron General Medical Center, 1 Akron General Ave, Akron, OH 44307 (Judy.Fulton@akrongeneral.org).
There are no conflicts of interest being declared by the authors directly related to this work. Other potential conflicts of interest for Judith Fulton, PhD, include collaborator on a grant from the Ohio Department of Development (tissue engineering), PI on contracts with Silvergreen Ltd (silver wound dressing) and Sterionics Inc (nonthermal plasma) for animal trials, SubI on sponsored clinical trial with Healthpoint (spray on cells), CoI on NIH R15 grant in collaboration with The University of Akron (oxygen-releasing polymer)—all funds paid to Akron General Medical Center. She is on the advisory board for Sterionics, Inc—no pay. She has a patent pending on “Autologous In Situ Tissue Engineering”—no royalties. She is also a member of the Education Committee of the Wound Healing Society.
