Using compression therapy in complex situations
<p>Patients presenting with ulceration will often have other chronic illnesses such as diabetes mellitus and osteoarthritis. Compression therapy remains the mainstay of treatment for the majority of these patients, although in some it will be contraindicated. This article stresses the importance of assessment of ulcer aetiology and will discuss the treatment of patients with ulceration […]
Improving wound care teaching and learning in clinical practice
<p>An increase in educational opportunities in wound care has not always translated into improvements in clinical practice. The problem has been finding effective teaching methods that can be easily translated into everyday practice. Tissue viability clinical nurse specialists and those who are responsible for teaching the healthcare team about advances in wound management should use […]
Measuring outcomes with complex patients: an audit of the effect of Actiform Cool on painful wounds
There is growing awareness surrounding the importance of wound pain, recognised by the publication of recent international studies (White, 2008). Wound pain has been identified as an outcome important to patients, in addition to physiological endpoints. It can be difficult to use randomised controlled trials to measure subjective outcomes such as pain, particularly with complex […]
Improving the calf pump using home-based exercises for patients with chronic venous disease
<p>When treating leg ulcers it is all too easy to lose sight of the underlying pathology and focus upon the visible ulcer. A lack of attention to the calf pump mechanism in chronic venous disease has resulted in insufficient emphasis on exercise therapy to address this neglected issue. This article focuses on what research has […]
Template for management: developing a lymphoedema service
This practical document is the second in the template series, launched by the Lymphoedema Framework. It is designed to support healthcare professionals in setting up and developing much needed lymphoedema services. Supported by medi UK
Wound exudate and the role of dressings: a WUWHS consensus document
This consensus document has been adopted by the World Union of Wound Healing Societies as an educational initiative and provides principles for best practice on exudate management and the role of dressings.
LOI: an alternative to Doppler in leg ulcer patients
<p>Doppler Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) is the recommended method of arterial screening when assessing patient eligibility for compression therapy. However, in this paper, Janice Bianchi details the potential shortcomings of this technique and describes a newer, simpler test using a pulse oximetry Lanarkshire Oximetry Index which has been shown to be a feasible way […]
