Results
Theresults demonstratethatMepitelOnewasratedlow
forpainonapplication,removalandwhileinsitu(Figure 1).
Ease ofapplicationand conformabilityalsoshowed good
results(Figure 2),however,somenursingstaff commented
thatMepitelOnewasdifficulttoremovefromitsbacking,
especially when having to cut toa smaller size, but this
probablyjustreflectedthatthestaffwerenewtotheproduct
andhadnotgotusedtohowtohandleit.Overall,patients
werehappywiththedressing,particularlyonremoval,with
commentsratingthis product higherthan other dressings
thathadbeenusedpreviously.
Case Study
MrsKwasan18-year-oldwomanwhosustainedhot-oil
scaldstothedorsumandallthedigitsonherrighthand
whenshewascooking(Figure 3).Shesustaineddeepdermal
burnsthatwereextremelypainful.JudkinsandClark(2010)
suggestthatdermalburnsextendintobutnotbeyondthe
dermis.Theyaddthatnerve endingsaredestroyedinthe
burntissuebutstimulatedinthedeeperdermislayers,so
significantpaincanbeanticipated.
MrsKwasadmittedtotheburnsunitforpainreliefand
elevation,asthehandhadbecomeoedematousandthiswas
affectingfunction.Swellingisamajorfactorinanyhand
burnasthereis considerableoedema,whichmayinvolve
subcutaneousstructuresasdiscussedpreviously.Elevationon
pillowsorwithaBradfordSlingforthefirst48–72 hours
minimisesswellingandimprovesfunction(Rawlins,2011).
Mrs K was treated with other non-adherent dressings
initially, but found these very painful to remove so was
includedintheMepitelOne evaluationwhenit became
available (Figure 4 and Figure 5). She was then discharged
andseenasanoutpatient.ThepatientfoundMepitelOne
morecomfortablethanotherdressingsused,particularlyon
removal.Thewoundsfullyhealed5 weekslater(Figure 6).
Discussion
Atraumaticdressingsareanimportantconsiderationinhand
burnmanagement.Correctselectionofdressingscanspeed
upfunctionalrehabilitationandthehealingprocess(Robson
Table 1. Depth of burns
Burn depth Number of patients TBSA
Deep dermal 6 0.25-1%
Partial thickness 2 0.5%
Superficial 2 0.1-0.5%