Hydrocellular Foam Versus Hydrocolloid Plate in the Prevention of Pressure Injuries

Pressure injury is one of the most prevalent skin injuries and a great challenge in the hospital environment. The implementation of preventive measures contributes to reducing its occurrence.

This study compares the protective effect of 2 adhesive dressings used in the prevention of pressure injuries in at-risk patients.

This case series was conducted at a university hospital in southeastern Brazil with 80 hospitalized adult patients at risk for pressure injuries, as per the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk. Patients were randomized to preventive intervention with either hydrocellular foam (n = 40) or hydrocolloid plate (n = 40) dressing, which was applied to the intact skin over the sacrum and trochanters and changed weekly over 8 weeks.

Of the patients, 56.5% were women, 64.5% were 60 years of age or older, 58.1% were admitted to an intensive care unit, and 63.9% were at high risk for pressure injuries. None of the patients developed a pressure injury. However, the presence of blanchable erythema, desquamation, pruritus, discomfort during dressing removal, and skin damage caused by the strong adhesiveness of the dressings were observed in both groups. In the hydrocolloid plate group, patients reported significantly more discomfort during dressing removal due to its strong adhesion to the skin (P = .004) than those in the hydrocellular foam group.

Standard preventive measures combined with the use of either hydrocellular foam or hydrocolloid plate contributed to the prevention of pressure injuries in at-risk patients, with hydrocolloid plate being associated with significantly more discomfort during dressing removal.