Pressure Distribution Properties in Wound Dressings Using Heel and Sacrum Indenters Under Clinically Relevant Loads

To understand the pressure distribution characteristics of a border and silicone version of a next-generation multilayered foam dressing (A and B) compared with three commercially available dressings (C, D, and E) using a novel pressure distribution model with clinically relevant pressures.

The testing setup included a support surface analog of K45 foam covered with polyurethane fabric, a high-resolution pressure mapping system, and a silicone layer to simulate overlying tissue. The dressing was exposed to clinically relevant loads of 30 and 80 mm Hg for 60 seconds using new sacral and heel indenters. A control was conducted using the same setup without a dressing. Statistical significance was determined using a 95% CI and t test with α = .05.

All dressings decreased pressure and increased contact area compared with the control ( P < 0.05). Dressings A and B had lower peak pressures than dressings C and E for both indenters. Dressings D and B had the largest contact areas and lowest pressures in the heel indenters, whereas dressing E had the smallest contact area and the highest pressures for both indenters. The results also demonstrated a strong negative correlation between the average pressure and the contact area for both indenters.

Using anatomically accurate indenters and clinically relevant pressures, the study demonstrated that dressings A and B significantly reduced interface pressure compared with no dressing, suggesting potential advantages for pressure redistribution in vulnerable areas. Additional clinical research in various care settings is needed to validate this study's findings.