Does Warmed Saline Irrigation Improve Comfort During Dressing Changes After Digit Replantation? A Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Microsurgery
• Plastic Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Digit replantation surgery requires meticulous postoperative wound care.
• Dressing changes can cause significant patient distress, including pain, anxiety, and local hypothermia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of warmed saline irrigation on patient experience and physiological stability during postoperative dressing changes after digit replantation.
• To determine if warmed saline improves pain, anxiety, comfort, and digit temperature compared to room-temperature saline.

Main Methods:

• A single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial involving 149 patients undergoing digit replantation.
• Patients received either warmed or room-temperature saline irrigation during dressing changes.
• Primary outcomes included pain and digit temperature; secondary outcomes included anxiety, comfort, complications, and digit survival.

Main Results:

• Warmed saline significantly reduced pain and anxiety and improved patient comfort compared to room-temperature saline (p < 0.001).
• Warmed saline maintained peri-wound temperature, while room-temperature saline caused transient cooling.
• No significant differences were found in complication rates or digit survival between groups.

Conclusions:

• Warmed saline irrigation is a safe, practical, and low-cost strategy to enhance patient comfort and reduce distress after digit replantation.
• Thermal management during wound care is an underutilized aspect of patient-centered postoperative care.
• Integration of warmed saline irrigation into routine practice is recommended to improve patient outcomes.