Wound Care

306 Nurse to Nurse
— Two (2) inches of medical grade foam are for comfort only
and do not reduce or relieve pressure.
— Three to four inches may reduce pressure if the patient is
not overweight and surface is medical grade.
— Important to validate what loads (weight amount) the
manufacturer is allowed to state the device is capable of
holding for either reduction or relief.
— Density of the foam material (ability to support patient’s
weight).
— Indentation load deflection (ILD) (compressibility, conformability
of foam and foam’s ability to distribute the
mechanical load).
— Some foam devices are medical grade foam while others
are not and therefore each device should be carefully evaluated
to meet the individual client’s needs and use.
— Contours (the surface description i.e. convoluted,
slashed, flat, or textured).
— Health-care provider responsible for evaluation of client’s
overall body weight, distribution on the support surface,
and for ordering a surface that provides either prevention
or appropriate treatment of wounds.
• Static air-filled overlays: interconnected cells in the
device are interconnected when inflated usually with an
air blower.
— Some devices are medical grade foam while others are not
and therefore each device should be carefully evaluated to
meet the individual client’s needs and use.
— Available for chair or bed use, for short or long term use.
— Vast majority reduce pressure, a few market pressure
relief.
— Proper inflation is an absolute necessity.
• Alternating air-filled mattress overlays: inflation and deflation
occurs on an alternating basis with the intent of preventing
constant pressure against the skin.