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Dressings and Products in Pediatric Wound Care
Alice King1, Judith J Stellar2, Anne Blevins3
1Pediatric Advanced Wound and Skin Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, Ohio. ; Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, Ohio.
Insights
Pediatric wound care lacks evidence-based guidelines. This review examines traditional and advanced wound care products, like honey and silver, for neonates and children, advocating for new research and guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dermatology
- Wound Healing Research
- Biomaterials in Medicine
Background:
- Neonatal and pediatric patients face high risks of skin complications due to complex medical care.
- Current pediatric wound care relies on expert opinion, lacking robust evidence-based guidelines.
- Existing wound care products are often designed for adults and lack pediatric safety and efficacy data.
Approach:
- Reviewing existing literature on traditional and advanced wound care products for pediatric use.
- Evaluating the safety and efficacy of novel technologies like medical-grade honey, nanocrystalline silver, and silicone dressings.
- Identifying gaps in evidence for pediatric wound management.
Key Points:
- Pediatric patients are at risk for pressure ulcers, nonhealing wounds, and skin damage.
- Evidence-based guidelines for pediatric wound care are critically needed.
- Advanced wound care technologies require specific evaluation for neonatal and pediatric populations.
Conclusions:
- Establishment of evidence-based wound care practices is essential for neonates and children.
- Further research is needed to evaluate existing and novel wound care products for pediatric safety and efficacy.
- Understanding pediatric wound healing pathophysiology will drive the development of specialized treatments.
Abstract:
Significance: The increasing complexity of medical and surgical care provided to pediatric patients has resulted in a population at significant risk for complications such as pressure ulcers, nonhealing surgical wounds, and moisture-associated skin damage. Wound care practices for neonatal and pediatric patients, including the choice of specific dressings or other wound care products, are currently based on a combination of provider experience and preference and a small number of published clinical guidelines based on expert opinion; rigorous evidence-based clinical guidelines for wound management in these populations is lacking. Recent Advances: Advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of wound healing have contributed to an ever-increasing number of specialized wound care products, most of which are predominantly marketed to adult patients and that have not been evaluated for safety and efficacy in the neonatal and pediatric populations. This review aims to discuss the available data on the use of both more traditional wound care products and newer wound care technologies in these populations, including medical-grade honey, nanocrystalline silver, and soft silicone-based adhesive technology. Critical Issues: Evidence-based wound care practices and demonstration of the safety, efficacy, and appropriate utilization of available wound care dressings and products in the neonatal and pediatric populations should be established to address specific concerns regarding wound management in these populations. Future Directions: The creation and implementation of evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of common wounds in the neonatal and pediatric populations is essential. In addition to an evaluation of currently marketed wound care dressings and products used in the adult population, newer wound care technologies should also be evaluated for use in neonates and children. In addition, further investigation of the specific pathophysiology of wound healing in neonates and children is indicated to promote the development of wound care dressings and products with specific applications in these populations.
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