International Wound Journal最新文献

RETRACTION: G.-L. Deng, Y.-L. Lei, H. Tan, B.-C. Geng, and Z. Liu, “ Effects of Predictive Nursing Interventions on Pressure Ulcer in Elderly Bedridden Patients,” International Wound Journal 21, no. 3 (2024): e14690, https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.14690.

The above article, published online on 07 March 2024, in Wiley Online Library (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor in Chief, Professor Keith Harding; and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Following an investigation by the publisher, all parties have concluded that this article was accepted solely on the basis of a compromised peer review process. In addition, the authors provided incomplete ethical approval and patient consent information for the study. The editors have therefore decided to retract the article. The authors did not respond to our notice regarding the retraction.

This study examined the feasibility of non-invasive infrared thermography to monitor skin graft viability. Sixty-three patients with skin defects attending a single institution from May 2022 to August 2023 were included. Patients underwent full-thickness or split-thickness skin grafts based on clinical indication. Infrared thermal images were obtained on postoperative days 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8. The temperature difference between the skin graft and surrounding normal skin was assessed using image analysis software. All 33 patients with full-thickness skin grafts showed successful healing. Among the 30 patients with split-thickness skin grafts, 7 experienced failure. The groups with successful full-thickness and split-thickness skin grafts exhibited a gradual increase in graft temperature, peaking on postoperative day 6 and decreasing on postoperative day 8. Temporal temperature changes were significant in each patient group (p < 0.001), and the differences in temperature change patterns between the two groups with successful grafts and the group with graft failure were also significant (p < 0.001). On postoperative day 6, the temperature difference was highest in the full-thickness skin graft group (0.197 ± 0.335°C), followed by the successful split-thickness skin graft group (0.426 ± 0.428°C), and the split-thickness skin graft group with graft failure (−2.100 ± 0.361°C). In conclusion, infrared thermal imaging can provide a non-invasive real-time assessment of graft status and predict graft success or failure.

Preventing pressure injuries is a primary objective for care and treatment teams in intensive care units (ICUs). Therefore, the current study aimed to compare the efficacy of Zinc Oxide and Vaseline prophylactic dressings in preventing sacral pressure injuries in patients admitted to the ICU. This clinical trial was conducted in the ICU in 2023. The study population included patients at moderate to high risk for pressure injuries based on the Braden scale criteria. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to one of five groups using random allocation software: (1) the intervention group receiving Zinc Oxide as a prophylactic dressing, (2) the intervention group using Zinc Oxide as a topical application, (3) the intervention group with Vaseline as a prophylactic dressing, (4) the intervention group using Vaseline as a topical application and (5) the control group. Participants were homogenous regarding demographic information in all five groups. The frequency distribution of pressure injuries across the five groups was analysed using the Chi-square test. The results revealed no pressure injuries were observed in the Zinc Oxide and Vaseline with dressing groups. In contrast, the Zinc Oxide without dressing group had five cases, the Vaseline without dressing group had six cases and the Control group had 14 cases of pressure injuries. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The results of this study showed that Zinc Oxide and Vaseline as preventive dressings in the sacral area of patients admitted to ICUs can be considered an effective and affordable strategy for healthcare providers.

To investigate risk factors for re-infection and compare the outcomes in people with diabetic foot infections. A retrospective chart review was conducted, and 294 hospitalised patients with moderate to severe diabetic foot infections (DFIs) were analysed for this study. The diagnosis and classification of the severity of infection was based on the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) infection guidelines. Skin and soft tissue infections were diagnosed based on clinical observations as per IWGDF classification in addition to ruling out any suspected osteomyelitis (OM) through negative bone culture, MRI or WBC SPECT CT. OM was confirmed by bone culture or histopathology. Clinical outcomes were based on a 12-month follow-up period. All dichotomous outcomes were compared using χ² with an alpha of 0.05. The result of this study shows a 48% rate of re-infection in people admitted to our hospital with moderate and severe diabetic foot infections (DFI). Patients with osteomyelitis present during the index admission were 2.1 times more likely to experience a re-infection than patients with soft tissue infection (56.7% vs. 38.0% respectively). In the univariate analysis, risk factors for re-infection included osteomyelitis, non-healing wounds, prolonged wound healing, antidepressants and leukocytosis. In the regression analysis, the only risk factor for re-infection was wounds that were not healed >90 days (HR =2.0, CI: 1.5, 2.7, p = 0.001). Re-infection is very common in patients with moderate and severe diabetic foot infections. Risk factors include osteomyelitis, non-healing wound, prolonged wound healing, antidepressants and leukocytosis.

Efficient wound assessment is essential for healthcare teams to facilitate prompt diagnosis, optimize treatment plans, reduce workload, and enhance patients' quality of life. In recent years, non-invasive techniques for aiding wound assessment, such as digital photography, 3D modelling, optical imaging, fluorescence and thermography, as well as artificial intelligence, have been gradually developed. This paper aims to review the various methods of measurement and diagnosis based on non-invasive wound imaging, and to summarize their application in wound monitoring and assessment. The goal is to provide a foundation and reference for future research on wound assessment.

One of the key measures to prevent pressure ulcer is to identify the factors that influence them. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of pressure ulcers and their related risk factors in patients admitted to specialized care units. This research is a retrospective cohort study that was conducted in the critical care units of hospitals affiliated to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. A total of 1158 patient records who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) between 2021 and 2022 were selected from the research population using the available sampling method and based on the inclusion criteria. Data was collected using a researcher-made checklist between April 2021 and December 2022. Data were analysed using analytical tests (chi-squared test, regression test) and descriptive statistics (prevalence, mean, standard deviation, and median) tests. All 1158 patient files were examined without any sample loss. The average age of the patients was 58.59 ± 19.73 years. The study found a significant association between the occurrence of pressure ulcers and age, duration of hospitalization, weight, body temperature, and male gender (p-value <0.001). Additionally, there was a significant association between the occurrence of pressure ulcers and the use of pain relievers, vasopressors, alpha-blockers, calcium blockers, and angiotensin (p-value 0.001). The study also investigated the association between nursing care practices and the development of pressure ulcers. The findings revealed that changing the angle of the bed, using a wavy mattress, repositioning the patient every 2 h, using a CPR bed for mobility, providing protective equipment, and applying physical restraint to the patient were all significantly associated with the likelihood of pressure ulcers (p < 0.001). The study showed that pressure ulcers in ICU patients are influenced by the type of disease and clinical factors in individuals. However, considering the conflicting results of this study with some other studies, more research is needed on this subject. It is suggested that appropriate measures be taken based on the patient's condition to prevent pressure ulcers in those admitted to the ICU.

This study aimed to explore Chinese clinical nurses' attitudes towards medical device-related pressure injuries (PIs) and analyse the relevant influencing factors. Between December 2023 and January 2024, a cross-sectional survey of 1740 clinical nurses from three tertiary hospitals, three secondary hospitals and five community hospitals in Shanghai, China, was conducted via the Chinese version of the Attitude towards medical device-related pressure ulcers/injuries questionnaire. A total of 1693 nurses participated in this study. Nurses' total score regarding their attitudes towards medical device-related PIs was 36.60 ± 8.97, and multiple linear regression analysis revealed that clinical nurses' highest level of education (p < 0.001), professional title (p < 0.001), position (p = 0.001), years of work experience (p < 0.001) and participation in medical device-related pressure injury (PI) training (p < 0.001) influenced their attitudes towards medical device-related PIs. Nurses' attitudes towards medical device-related PIs ranged between negative and positive. Therefore, it is essential to focus on the highest level of education, professional title, position and years of work experience. Increasing the frequency of medical device-related pressure injury (PI) prevention training will improve nurses' attitudes towards medical device-related PIs.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, painful neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by rapidly progressing skin ulcers. Despite the importance of local wound care in managing PG, there is no consensus or evidence-based guidelines. This systematic review aimed to investigate local wound care strategies for PG. A comprehensive search of Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library yielded 1213 references, from which 269 studies were included, covering 351 patients. The most reported treatment methods included sharp debridement (11%), topical corticosteroids (27%) and non-adherent dressings (12%). However, no clear correlation between these treatments and healing outcomes was found likely due to confounding factors such as varied wound sizes, superinfection and inconsistent reporting. Additionally, directed wound care regimens have not been able to show statistical significance for healing outcomes. Our study describes the current local wound care landscape and underscores a critical gap in the current literature regarding standardized treatment protocols for PG.

In our recent editorials, we discussed the expansion of our Editorial Board^{1, 2} and introduced you to some of our members. We promised a series of further editorials introducing our wider membership. This is the second in a series of three editorials providing insight into the group of outstanding and distinguished individuals that comprise our board. We have created the largest most internationally diverse board to greatly increase the capabilities and expertise of the journal.

Please meet the editorial board members for the International Wound Journal covering Europe.